The Malaysian Insider

By Adib Zalkapli

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh today said the RM1,000 fine recommended by the parliamentary select committee does not reflect the severity of the offence committed by the Umno Youth leaders last February.

“It does not send the right signal to those who want to come to parliament to intimidate members of parliament,” Karpal told a press conference.

The RM1,000 fine is the maximum allowed under the Houses of Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act 1952.

The DAP chairman also said that it is unfortunate that the police think they do not have the power to act against the four Umno Youth leaders who attempted to stop Karpal from entering the House.

He added that it is still not too late for the committee to recommend to the IGP to take necessary actions as punishment under the act is inadequate.

Karpal said the four, Latt Sharizan Abdullah, Megat Zulkarnain Omar Din,Azahari Shaari and Ungku Md Salleh Ungku Abd Jamal, should be charged under the Penal Code which allows imprisonment of up to seven years for obstructing MPs from entering Parliament.

The committee chaired by Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, in the report also proposed to admonish eight Pakatan Rakyat MPs including Karpal for refusing to co-operate with the committee.

“There is no provision in the Houses of Parliament Act 1952 to admonish us. It is a very serious matter. We are not children, we are MPs,” said Karpal.

He also hoped that the report will be properly debated by the House.

“Speaker must ensure a proper debate, because we cannot accept the recommendations,” said Karpal.

Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur), Kamaruddin Jaafar (PAS-Tumpat) and R Sivarasa (PKR-Subang) were charged for failing to attend the hearings despite being appointed to the committee.

Five other MPs were charged for not attending as witnesses.

They are Karpal, Fong Po Kuan, Lim Lip Eng, N Gobalakrishnan and Fong Kui Lun.

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