(Updated 4:25pm, 16 March 2009)
KUALA LUMPUR, 16 March 2009: Puchong Member of Parliament (MP) Gobind Singh Deo was suspended from the Dewan Rakyat for a year with immediate effect for accusing the deputy prime minister of murder and for contempt of the deputy speaker.
Gobind The motion to suspend the MP, which was tabled by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz today, was passed by a voice vote.
Nazri said that during the committee stage debate on the Supplementary Bill 2009 on 12 March, Gobind had issued remarks accusing Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is Pekan MP, of being involved in a murder case.
Gobind had also issued remarks in contempt of a deputy speaker after he was ordered to leave the Dewan Rakyat, he said.
“The remarks made were a very serious allegation and in breach of the rights and privileges as an MP and in contempt of the House,” he said.
The motion was tabled under Standing Order 27(3) of the Dewan Rakyat.
“Whereby it is agreed that the Honourable Member of Parliament for Puchong be suspended from his position as a Member of Parliament for 12 months from the date this motion is passed,” Nazri said.
Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia announced the passing of the motion at 1pm after all government backbenchers voted for it.
The opposition representatives had walked out of the House while Nazri was winding up the debate on the motion.
According to the motion, Gobind will not get all the allowances and benefits as an MP during the suspension period.
In his winding-up speech, Nazri said what Gobind did was not a crime and therefore there was no need to furnish proof for consideration before he was to be convicted of the offence.
“Therefore, if an action has been committed and clearly the action shows lack of manners against the deputy prime minister, it is sufficient for us to take action against him.
“But if the Puchong member of Parliament admits he is crazy, it would be different. But I believe when he made the remarks, he was not crazy and he knew what he did was wrong,” he said.
He also explained that Najib was not in the Dewan Rakyat today because he did not want to be seen to be influencing the lawmakers regarding the motion.
Earlier, several opposition members raised various provisions of the Standing Orders to object to the speaker’s decision in allowing the motion to be tabled.
Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) sought explanations from Pandikar Amin on the public interest which allowed the motion to be tabled without the seven-day notice.
Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar (PAS-Tumpat) meanwhile wanted the matter to be referred to the Rights and Privileges Committee and Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) questioned why Gobind was not given time to defend himself.
Others who also stood up were M Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat), Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham (DAP-Beruas), Nga Kor Ming (DAP-Taiping) and R Sivarasa (PKR-Subang).
Pandikar Amin said: “I have read Standing Orders 27(3), 80(1), and 44(8) which allow this motion to be debated in the House.
“It is my interpretation and I would like to remind all that the speaker’s decision under Order 43 should be accepted. It has something to do with the behaviour and ramblings by members of the House under the protection of the House and it did not happen outside. Everyone knows these things happen,” he said.
He also said that he had read the Hansard account of what happened that day and found that Gobind had committed offences under Standing Order 36(6) for imputing improper motives to another member, Order 36(4) for using offensive language and Order 36(9) for mentioning the conduct and character of a member in another capacity.
He also committed offences under Order 36(2) for mentioning a matter which is sub judice, Order 36(10)(b) and (c) for using seditious words and words likely to promote feelings of ill-will against the government and between different communities. — Bernama
Maozi says
There are way too many MPs that should be suspended, and Gobind may be the least of them.
roast pork says
Well, that’s what you get when you call the future prime minister a murderer. He’s already sworn on the Quran he had nothing to do with it. What more convincing does one need?
Tommy says
Roast pork,
Well said. Then let all criminals swear and we do not need prisons anymore. Are you convinced?
Tommy says
Let her go. Like I said before “A winner never quits and a quitter never wins.”
roast pork says
Tommy,
Well it is glaringly obvious to me that swearing on any kind of religious manuscript is surely all one needs to clear the air. I’m surprised there are people like you who do not hold my God-fearing world view. You should be lynched, or something. Wait, let me gather my mob.
(Insert horror movie soundtrack here.)
siew eng says
Roast Pork,
Plug in the holes in the case, for one.
1. Why did the prosecutor hasten to block off questions about the allegedly incriminating photograph? Whose interest was he serving? This is highly irregular given that he is supposed to examine all evidence to unearth the truth.
2. Who erased the immigration entry records of the three Mongolians, including the deceased? How? Why? Is there an investigation? Why is there no pressure on the department to explain what happened? Why aren’t the mainstream media focusing on this official screw-up instead of the usual advertising-driven salacious drivel they feed us, and worse, the private photos of a woman politician which is of no business of theirs or anyone else?
3. Why PI Bala u-turned so shockingly (vast difference in his demeanour and words, too), and worse – his disappearance to this day! (Hope he and his family are okay.) How is the public supposed to be assured that Bala hasn’t been kidnapped to nefarious ends?
4. Who are the real masterminds? Are investigations continuing? Shouldn’t this be reported as top priority since rumours about the DPM’s involvement refuse to go away regardless?
5. …
tengku mohd faizal says
Gobind should set his priorities right, instead of creating “cheap publicity” in Parliament, he should find out how many unemployed people are in the Puchong constituency, find ways and give ideas on how he could help those people to ease their economic hardship. I guess the ban is just in time, in one year’s time, he would have helped thousands of unemployed people in Puchong constituency.
bee yong says
Since 80,000 rakyat will not be represented for a year and GE13 will be on from two years or so, PR should strategically forsake Gobind (with his permission) and call for a by-election in Puchong (please wait for 7 April by-election results). BN by then will be extremely fearful of any by-election and I am sure they will lose their deposit. In this way PR teach the BN a lesson for future “disturbing” suspensions.
roast chicken says
Roast pork,
Your logic is not logical.
A sinful person doesn’t repect the Quran.
roast pork says
Hello everybody,
I am preparing effigies and kerosene for my mob, who are protesting people who cannot see through sarcasm. If anyone would like their likeness captured (and set on fire), kindly forward a link to your photo.
Thank you.