malaysia

No 1MDB questions, Kit Siang urges speaker to explain

March 11, 2016

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia is taken to task by opposition MPs for rejecting all questions related on the 1MDB scandal and the RM2.6 billion in the prime minister's accounts. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, March 11, 2016.DAP has urged Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia to reveal the number of questions on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) he rejected since proceedings began this week.

The party's parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang said Pandikar should also explain his rationale for rejecting the questions, as the state-owned investment firm's dealings were a matter of public concern.

He said the government must provide full answers and be accountable for the "twin mega scandals" of 1MDB and the RM2.6 billion "donation" found in Datuk Seri Najib Razak's private bank accounts.

"Pandikar has yet to explain why there are such a large number of oral questions by members of Parliament which had been rejected by him in the current five-week Parliament meeting on the ground of violation of Standing Orders," Lim said in a statement.

Opposition lawmakers have complained that their questions on 1MDB and the RM2.6 billion had been rejected by the Parliament secretariat.

Lim, the Gelang Patah MP who has been suspended from Parliament for six months, said Pandikar had appeared to set a new record on the number of oral questions rejected.

"A dubious record which no Parliament Speaker has reason to feel proud, especially one who is talking the 'parliamentary reform' language," he added.

Pandikar, however, told a press conference on Wednesday that nothing was stopping the lawmakers from raising their questions when debating the Agong's opening address. – March 11, 2016.