TTF: On the 22nd of March 2018, Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh said he would never have condoned the leakage that occurred with regards to the Election Commission’s redelineation report. The report, embargoed by Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia until Wednesday, was leaked by civil society group member Wong Chin Huat (see news item below).
Following the breach, Lim Kit Siang announced – apparently, on behalf of Lim Guan Eng – that the DAP would appoint a panel of four MP-lawyers headed by Ramkarpal Singh (Bukit Glugor) and comprising Teo Nie Ching (Kulai), Lim Lip Eng (Segambut) and Thomas Su (Ipoh Timor) to defend Wong Chin Huat (source: Lim Sian See)
Now, the fact that Kit Siang made the announcement and not Guan Eng proves beyond any measure of doubt that he is indeed the de facto Chief of the DAP. But more importantly, his decision to appoint Ramkarpal as panel head flies straight in the face of the lawyer, who made it absolutely clear that the person responsible for the breach had done wrong. Under the circumstances, how could Ramkarpal possibly function as Chin Huat’s counsel without being one-sided about the whole affair?
So what is it going to be, Ramkarpal? Are we to expect that you’re going to tell Kit Siang off, or are you about to clarify your position on the matter?
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KUALA LUMPUR: Activist Wong Chin Huat says he is willing to pay the RM1,000 fine for breaking the embargo set by Parliament over the Election Commission’s redelineation report.
Wong, who is a member of civil society group Engage, said he defied the Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952 by revealing the contents of the report before it is officially tabled in Parliament.
“It’s an act of civil disobedience and I’m breaking the law, but Malaysians deserve to know what’s going on,” he said during a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall here on Tuesday (March 27).
Wong had discussed several aspects of the report during the press conference
The report will be tabled for first reading in Parliament on Wednesday (March 28). He said that he would go to Parliament and offer to pay the fine on Tuesday.
Wong, who has a doctorate from the University of Essex on electoral systems and whose authored reports on the subject matter have been consulted in court, had criticised the report, which was distributed to lawmakers last week. Lawmakers were not allowed to publish or distribute the report in any form until the embargo is lifted on Wednesday.
The motion, once debated and passed with a simple majority of 111 lawmakers in Parliament, will be gazetted upon receiving the Royal Assent.
Source: The Star Online
