Dewan Rakyat Gives Ample Opportunity To Debate TH RCI Report - Speaker

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 (Bernama) -- The Dewan Rakyat is giving all MPs ample opportunity to debate the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH), in the public interest and for greater transparency in governance.

Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul said the special sitting today was held under Standing Order 11(3) of the Standing Orders of the Dewan Rakyat, following a notice submitted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“When the Prime Minister sent a letter requesting that the sitting be held, I complied, and that is why I allowed this sitting to take place.

“I am bound by Standing Order 11(3), and I allowed the sitting to be held to enable MPs from both sides to debate the key findings of the report,” he said.

He said this during the special Dewan Rakyat sitting before the minister’s briefing on the RCI.

Earlier, Perikatan Nasional (PN) Chief Whip Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan raised the issue of the Prime Minister’s absence.

Johari stressed that the Prime Minister’s absence did not affect the proceedings as the government was represented by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and other Cabinet members.

“To ask why the PM is not here, we have DPM Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi here. Are you trying to downgrade the position of the DPM? He is here representing the Cabinet, and the other ministers are also here representing the Cabinet,” he said.

He also reminded MPs that they still had two other important platforms to raise related issues, including during the tabling of the Budget scheduled for October.

Johari added that the matter could be brought before the Special Select Committee.

“In fact, the Special Select Committee can pick up what we have discussed, draw up a resolution and call whoever...I have made my decision to proceed with the special sitting,” he said.

-- BERNAMA