PARLIAMENT will not debate the Pandora Papers as the matter is not urgent enough to warrant setting aside the agenda to facilitate discussion, said Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun.

“I agree that the Pandora Papers are of public interest but they are not urgent enough to set aside the matters already listed in the Order Paper,” Azhar told the Dewan Rakyat this morning.

Azhar said he would not set aside important topics like the Covid-19 crisis and 12th Malaysia Plan for the MPs to debate the media exposé instead.

“Although it is an important issue, it is something that can be raised in other ways such as during the minister’s question time or the question-and-answer sessions.

“It is more appropriate to push for an investigation by a royal commission. Alternatively, Pandora Papers can also be probed by the nine select committees.

“Moreover, the Pandora Papers have not been verified and Standing Orders 23 (1)(i) states that Parliament should not be used to confirm media reports.”

Azhar was responding to Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s (Port Dickson-PH) motion to discuss the Pandora Papers leak in Parliament. 

The Pandora Papers are 2.94 terabytes of data anonymously leaked to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.

The data contain nearly 12 million documents and records of 14 offshore service providers which set up and manage shell companies and trusts in tax havens around the world. However, the data do not show any wrongdoing on the part of the depositors. 

Among those named in the Pandora Papers as having offshore accounts include Finance Minister Senator Tengku Zafrul Aziz, former deputy prime minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, former finance minister Daim Zainuddin and Selayang MP William Leong.

In response to Azhar, Anwar said that it was not right for Parliament to reject his motion on technicalities.

“Previous leaks about the illicit flow of money from the country in 2012 were also not investigated. 

“While the select committees are the right avenue to investigate the Pandora Papers, the public also has the right to know about the millions that have been stolen from the country,” said the Pakatan Harapan chairman. 

Anwar said the new government has also yet to decide on the composition of the select committees.

Azhar replied that the government has just agreed to the new composition of the select committees.

“I will bring this to the Parliament committee so that a motion can be brought to Parliament on Monday,” said Azhar.

Anwar said he will file a motion under Standing Orders 43 for Azhar to review his decision. – October 6, 2021.