KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 19, 2009): Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia defended his chair today, insisting the decisions he and his deputies have made all along were not influenced by political interest or anything else.

"Have faith that what we do have always been with a purpose to protect the integrity of the chair," he told Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) when the latter appeared to accuse him of following the instructions of the government.

"According to the standing order, I don’t have to give a reason for the decisions I made because this is under my jurisdiction. But still, I have to give reasons.

"Otherwise, I will be seen playing the game of the executives as alleged by Ipoh Timur. But, if this was true, why did I allow four motions raised since I became speaker?" he asked.

Pandikar Amin said he has accepted the motions from Dr Lee Boon Chye (PKR-Gopeng) to discuss the Influenza A (H1N1) in June this year, from Salahuddin Ayub (PAS-Kubang Kerian) to discuss the price of rice in May last year, from Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) to discuss the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide and from Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Bandar Kuching) to discuss the fishermen’s strike – both in December last year.

Salahuddin Ayub

Earlier, Lim raised a standing order when his motion to discuss the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2009 which saw Malaysia suffering the worst CPI rank of 56 and score of 4.5 was rejected by the speaker in chambers.

Lim’s point was supported by Ppposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (PKR-Permatang Pauh) who said that based on facts, the most serious issue in the country now is corruption.

"Corruption involves the political system, finance, contracts, judiciary and police. If we can’t address it in the parliament, where else can we do it? The house should be allowed to discuss specific and urgent matter," he said.

Pandikar Amin said corruption is a continuous issue and not something urgent, adding if the MPs were not satisfied with his decision, they could bring a motion to appeal against it.

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