By Syed Jaymal Zahiid
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 3 — The Dewan Rakyat Speaker today rejected the urgent motion to declassify the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide report, reinforcing the perception that the federal government lacks political will to unveil the truth behind the tragedy that killed five people.
Tan Sri Pandikar Mulia Amin (picture) rejected the motion by PKR Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin in his chambers today on technical grounds — that another MP had submitted a motion prior to Zuraida's.
Pandikar also told Zuraida in the Dewan Rakyat later that her motion was not a matter of urgency for debate.
Under the Parliamentary Standing Orders, the Speaker can only allow a single urgent motion to be submitted and heard. The procedure is on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Zuraida's motion came after a fellow Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmaker from PAS submitted a motion to debate on the Kelantan oil royalty issue.
Though many have criticised the Standing Orders as "rigidly inhumane", the PR lawmakers are experienced enough to know the procedures which indicates that there was a lack of communication between leaders from both sides.
PAS's motion was also rejected in the House.
The rejection of Zuraida’s attempt to declassify the report has dealt another blow to seek settlement by the family members of those who died.
They know only that the landslide was caused by faulty development but without the report, there is no way the affected parties can resort to legal recourse.
The report, which indicated that the landslide may have been caused by a burst water pipe, has been classified under the Officials Secrets Act (OSA).
The Pakatan Rakyat-led Selangor government had earlier tried to make public the report but was forced to backtrack following threats of action by the federal government, wielding the OSA.
Works Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said yesterday he would have to get Cabinet approval first before making the report public.
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