‘Why are you advocating for these people?’ Anwar asks Speaker in bid to debate Pandora Papers
Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pic) said that the Pandora Papers exposé should be debated in Parliament even if the shares were worth only £5 as the Speaker said. ― Bernama pic
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 — A furious Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim roasted Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun in Parliament today as the Opposition leader sought and failed to debate the latest financial scandal involving some of Malaysia’s political elite exposed in the Pandora Papers.
The row began when Azhar told the Port Dickson MP that he should have used Standing Order 43 instead of 90(1) and 90(2) to seek a review when his first bid to debate the subject was rejected last week.
“The Pandora Papers is not about hiding money or outflow of billions in funds from our country to offshore havens. It is an exposé on the holding of shares in offshore companies. Those are two different matters YB,” Azhar told Anwar.
“In fact, I see that even the holding of shares, according to statements from the outside, it’s only a little bit and not billions. There are some which are only £5 from what I read, if I am not mistaken. There was one where the company held assets worth 2.5 million, either in US dollars or pound sterlings,” he added.
Anwar, looking furious, shot back and defended his use of the particular provision in the Standing Orders, saying it was for Azhar to correct his initial decision on his motion.
He then asked Azhar: “But why does the Speaker want to become a lawyer for the corrupt groups?”
The Opposition lawmaker said that he had documents on the matter that he wished to ask in Parliament. One of them, Anwar said, was how a minister could own offshore shares, which he alleged to be a source of wealth from Malaysia.
“I don’t understand why the Speaker chooses to become an advocate for these people!” he added.
Anwar said that the Pandora Papers exposé should be debated in Parliament even if the shares were worth only £5 as Azhar said.
However, Azhar remained calm and told Anwar that he was merely “setting the facts straight” on the Pandora Papers. He also remained firm on his decision to reject Anwar’s debate application.
The Pandora Papers is the largest trove of leaked offshore data in history made public by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, with documents coming from offshore service providers operating in Anguilla, Belize, Singapore, Switzerland, Panama, Barbados, Cyprus, Dubai, the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, Seychelles and Vietnam.
Among the Malaysians who were linked were former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin, current Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz and PKR’s Selayang MP William Leong who have all admitted to having owned offshore accounts previously.
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 — A furious Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim roasted Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun in Parliament today as the Opposition leader sought and failed to debate the latest financial scandal involving some of Malaysia’s political elite exposed in the Pandora Papers.
The row began when Azhar told the Port Dickson MP that he should have used Standing Order 43 instead of 90(1) and 90(2) to seek a review when his first bid to debate the subject was rejected last week.
“The Pandora Papers is not about hiding money or outflow of billions in funds from our country to offshore havens. It is an exposé on the holding of shares in offshore companies. Those are two different matters YB,” Azhar told Anwar.
“In fact, I see that even the holding of shares, according to statements from the outside, it’s only a little bit and not billions. There are some which are only £5 from what I read, if I am not mistaken. There was one where the company held assets worth 2.5 million, either in US dollars or pound sterlings,” he added.
Anwar, looking furious, shot back and defended his use of the particular provision in the Standing Orders, saying it was for Azhar to correct his initial decision on his motion.
He then asked Azhar: “But why does the Speaker want to become a lawyer for the corrupt groups?”
The Opposition lawmaker said that he had documents on the matter that he wished to ask in Parliament. One of them, Anwar said, was how a minister could own offshore shares, which he alleged to be a source of wealth from Malaysia.
“I don’t understand why the Speaker chooses to become an advocate for these people!” he added.
Anwar said that the Pandora Papers exposé should be debated in Parliament even if the shares were worth only £5 as Azhar said.
However, Azhar remained calm and told Anwar that he was merely “setting the facts straight” on the Pandora Papers. He also remained firm on his decision to reject Anwar’s debate application.
The Pandora Papers is the largest trove of leaked offshore data in history made public by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, with documents coming from offshore service providers operating in Anguilla, Belize, Singapore, Switzerland, Panama, Barbados, Cyprus, Dubai, the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, Seychelles and Vietnam.
Among the Malaysians who were linked were former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin, current Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz and PKR’s Selayang MP William Leong who have all admitted to having owned offshore accounts previously.
...ALL Linked to Tun Dr Mati tak Lama Lagi...... News IS TUN Dr is actually Mati-ing.........Mukriz says dad needs rest...DIE TUN DIE by 2022...the Total Collapse of MalaySIAL is before your eyes!!
ReplyDeleteArt the Artful Dodger role is to protect the Power Elite.
ReplyDeleteBut when it comes to cabotage policy the Speaker becomes Art the Dodger.
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Ministry misled Dewan Rakyat over subsea cable project, says Guan Eng
Dineskumar Ragu -October 11, 2021
KUALA LUMPUR: The government has been asked to clarify the status of the Apricot subsea cable project after two ministries gave contrasting statements.
Lim Guan Eng (PH–Bagan) claimed one of the ministries concerned had misled the Dewan Rakyat.
“On Sept 30, the transport minister (MoT) said Apricot’s 12,000km-long subsea cable project was unrelated to the cabotage policy where the ministry refused to give exemption to foreign ships to do maintenance.
“On Oct 5, the communications and multimedia minister (KKMM) gave a written answer to Bukit Mertajam (MP Steven Sim) that the unresolved cabotage policy was one of the reasons why Apricot bypassed Malaysia.
“Here we have two answers that are different, from KKMM and MoT. Which is the correct answer? This means one of the ministries has misled the Dewan. This is against (Dewan Rakyat) point of order 36(12)”, said Lim.
The Apricot cable project connects Japan, Taiwan, Guam, the Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore via a 12,000km-long subsea cable.
It is expected to be launched in 2024 to meet the growing demand for 4G, 5G, and broadband access in the region. Facebook and Google have since announced their participation in the project.
Several politicians had earlier claimed the Apricot project bypassed Malaysia because of the present government’s cabotage policy.
Lim asked the Speaker to investigate which version of the answer was accurate, adding that he was inclined to believe the communications ministry.
Speaker Azhar Harun replied he could not be expected to carry out such an investigation.
He added that according to his research of Commonwealth nations, there were no rules that allowed the Speaker of the House to determine the quality of the answers given by the ministers.
However, he said he would go beyond his duty and ask the ministries to clarify the matter, telling Lim to write a letter seeking clarification.
Khalid Samad (PH-Shah Alam) interjected to say it was the Speaker’s responsibility to request ministers to provide accurate answers.
“The Speaker has to ensure that the answers given are satisfactory. This is Parliament; questions are asked so that we can get the answers for public knowledge. You are hiding behind all these rules and regulations,” said Khalid.
Khalid’s remarks began a brief war of words between him and Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman (PAS-Sik).
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