KOTA Bharu MP Takiyuddin Hassan may escape disciplinary action for misleading Parliament because the motion to refer him remained undecided until it expired.

“I did not refer Takiyuddin to the rights and privileges committee because the meeting had already adjourned without my decision,” said Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun in Parliament today.

“Since the previous meeting has already ended, the motion cannot be carried forward to this meeting,” said Azhar, adding that this is in accordance with Rule 15 (5) of Parliament’s standing orders, which says a private member’s motion, which has been proposed but not yet decided, cannot be brought to the next meeting. 

Azhar was responding to Gobind Singh (Puchong-PH), who asked about his motion to refer Takiyuddin to the rights and privileges committee for misleading Parliament. 

“During that session, I had asked for a decision and you promised to decide. Does this mean that the Kota Bharu MP (Takiyuddin) will escape because you did not decide on my motion?” said the lawyer.

On July 28, Gobind and Hanipa Maidin (Sepang-PH) filed motions to refer Takiyuddin to the committee after he was alleged to have misled Parliament about the cancellation of emergency ordinances.

On July 26, Takiyuddin, then minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (law and Parliament), told the House that the Perikatan Nasional government had cancelled the six emergency ordinances passed during the state of emergency.

“The government has decided to cancel all the emergency ordinances (on July 21) made during the Emergency Proclamation. As such, the issue of annulment is no longer relevant,” said Takiyuddin.

However, his statement was disputed by the Agong, who later said that he had told Takiyuddin and Attorney-General Idrus Harun to table the ordinances.

In a statement issued by Comptroller of the Royal Household Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin on July 29, the Agong said he was disappointed that the government did not table the emergency ordinances in Parliament.

“The Agong stresses that Takiyuddin’s remarks on July 26 were inaccurate and had misled MPs,” Fadil added.

Shortly after statement was made public, Azhar adjourned Parliament for the remaining one-and-a-half days, citing Covid-19 concerns. – September 14, 2021.