DEWAN Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia and Secretary Roosme Hamzah have applied to set aside a summons by an opposition lawmaker challenging the speaker’s decision to prevent MPs from asking questions on 1Malaysia Development Berhad in the legislative body.

Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Kamaludin Md Said fixed January 8 for Pandikar’s application to be heard.

PKR’s Petaling Jaya Selatan MP Hee Loy Sian had filed an application to challenge the speaker’s decision, which saw Pandikar rejecting more than 30 questions on the state investment fund allegedly at the centre of a scandal that has seen more than US$1 billion (RM4.2 billion) siphoned off to buy luxury properties in the US, artwork, jewellery and movie rights, among others, by close associates of Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Pandikar is relying on the argument that the court cannot question the validity of any proceedings in either the Dewan Rakyat or Dewan Negara in Parliament, or any of its committees, under Article 63 (1) of the Federal Constitution.

Hee and other opposition MPs have said the speaker’s rejection of their questions on 1MDB prevented them from performing their duties as the people’s representatives.

Pandikar is represented by federal counsel Sallehuddin Md Ali, and Hee by PKR lawyer Latheefa Koya. – November 1, 2017.