“There is nowhere in the standing order that states you can’t rule subjudice over an issue that is in a foreign court”
KUALA LUMPUR: The discussions on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB)-related matters in Parliament ended with a probe by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia said today.
He was responding to claims by over 30 federal Opposition lawmakers that their questions on 1MDB were rejected for the current Parliamentary sitting.
“About two years ago, PAC has investigated this matter. As far as Parliament is concerned, as far the Speaker is concerned, that is the end of the matter,” he said during a press conference at Parliament today.
However, Pandikar said that 19 1MDB related questions were allowed in the current session, as they were in line with standing orders.
Pandikar said that the questions that were rejected in Parliament this session regarding 1MDB did not adhere to the standing orders.
He also said that there is “nothing stopping” PAC from conducting another probe on 1MDB should there be new evidence on the matter.
PAC tabled its 1MDB report in April last year, having investigated the matter for over a year.
Pandikar also defended his decision to declare any discussions on the Department of Justice (DOJ) suit to seize 1MDB-related assets as “subjudice”.
“There is nowhere in the standing order that states you can’t rule subjudice over an issue that is in a foreign court,” he added.
Pandikar said that while Parliament is the best place to discuss national issues, it is still subject to standing orders.
“This is not a market for anyone to discuss anything, this is not a political ceramah stage either,” he said.
Source: The Malay Mail Online
