BUKIT Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh read out in the Dewan Rakyat today the transcript of a leaked audio recording purportedly of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, suggesting that MPs be enticed to form a new government by rewarding them with positions.

This was after Deputy Speaker Azalina Othman Said refused to let the DAP lawmaker play the audio recording as part of his debate on the royal address.

Ramkarpal had earlier told the house that a question he had submitted for Muhyiddin, who is also Pagoh MP, to confirm whether it was indeed his voice in the recording, had been rejected.

He then asked if the home minister could, instead, elaborate on the status of police investigations into the recording, following a police report lodged by DAP on June 1.

“Is it Pagoh’s voice? Is it him? Because if it is him, then, with respect, an offence might have been committed.

“All he has to do is to confirm whether it is his voice. Once he does that, it can be investigated. If it is not his voice, he can say so in Parliament.

“I asked the question to Pagoh but it was rejected; I’m asking the home minister to explain if the recording is being investigated,” Ramkarpal said.

Muhyiddin was not in the chamber as Ramkarpal spoke.

Ramkarpal then took out his handphone with the recording on it and held it next to his microphone, informing the house that he would be playing the clip.

Told to stop by Azalina, Ramkarpal said: “There is no Standing Order that prohibits me from doing so. It has been done in the past, in the case of former chief justice Zaki Azmi over certain alleged crimes. The former Bukit Gelugor MP did the same, playing an audio recording in Parliament for the purpose of informing the Dewan.

“This is part of my speech. I’m giving the Dewan the best evidence. It is better I play from the recording itself rather than repeat its words,” Ramkarpal added.

After an argument, Azalina insisted she would not allow the recording to be played, saying: “You didn’t give any notice; this has taken me by surprise.”

She told Ramkarpal he could read out the transcript and continue with his speech but warned him not to play the recording.

Several audio clips of a Bersatu supreme council meeting on February 23, in which a voice resembling Muhyddin’s is heard, were leaked in late May.

In one clip, the voice is heard saying that MPs should be enticed to join in the formation of a new government by giving them positions, such as ministers or chairmen of government-linked companies.

Ramkarpal read out the excerpt in Bahasa Malaysia, the same language used in the recording.

“What I read just now clearly shows that there is an element of enticement on the part of the prime minister. He enticed members of the then Pakatan government into joining what we now call Perikatan Nasional.

“Is this not the greatest of betrayals? Some of these people are smiling. Only three months ago they were on this side,” he said while facing the government bench. – July 21, 2020.