The House today rejected Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim's motion to debate the alleged assault against DAP stalwart Karpal Singh in Parliament building last week on the grounds that a committee to probe into the matter has been set up.

violent attack towards dap karpal singh and lim lip eng at parliament 260209 sequence

According to Deputy Speaker Ronald Kiandee, a committee has been set up under the Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act and it will be responsible to probe and act on the matter.

"We decided yesterday that the first committee meeting will be held next Wednesday. As of now, the decision (to reject the motion) remains," said the deputy speaker.

Last Thursday, chaos erupted in the Parliament lobby when wheelchair-bound Karpal was mobbed by a group of angry Umno Youth members after he called them ‘ celaka ’ and blamed them for the death threat and two bullets he had received via mail almost two weeks ago.

Karpal later sought consultation with Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia to pass a resolution under the Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952 to issue warrants of arrest against the Umno Youth members.

However, the Dewan Rakyat speaker said that it would be more suitable to establish a special committee to investigate the matter under Section 80(A) of the Standing Orders.

Members of the committee are Pandikar, Kiandeee as well as members of parliament Tiong King Sing (Bintulu-BN), Fong Chan Ong (Alor Gajah-BN), Hajah Nancy Shukri (Batang Sadong-BN), R Sivarasa (Subang-PKR), Lim Kit Siang (Ipoh Timor-DAP) and Kamaruddin Jaffar (Tumpat-PAS).

The committee must submit its findings by March 26.

Committee alone 'not enough'

Anwar, who is also PKR de-facto leader, today said the House should be more serious in curbing such an incident from occurring again in the future.

"The setting up of the committee is necessary, but it is not good enough to show that the House is making an effort towards this serious matter that has humiliated the Parliament’s image," said Anwar in the motion.

parliament 170209 anwar ibrahim On the same note, he also urged the Speaker to approve the warrants of arrest against Serdang and Gombak Umno Youth chiefs Ungku Mat Salleh and Megat Zulkarnain Omardin so that they could be brought before the House to explain why they should not be jailed under Section 11 of the Parliament Act (Privileges and Powers) 1952.

"But the request to debate the motion has been rejected," said Anwar.

Earlier in the House, Karpal chided Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan for choosing not to interfere in the matter. Musa had said that as the incident had occurred within the Parliament compound, the police could not do anything.

"Does this mean the police will take no action against these people, even after a decision is made by the House?" asked Karpal, who is also a lawyer by trainning.

Kiandee later apologised to Karpal for not being in the position to clarify the matter as the motion was rejected in chambers.