Commentary by Mustafa K Anuar

THERE was a heated argument recently between the opposition, led by its leader Anwar Ibrahim, and Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun about addressing a matter of urgency and public interest in the Lower House.

Some RM900 billion, as revealed by the Pandora Papers recently, have flown out of the country over the years, implicating certain Malaysians such as politicians and ministers. And yet, speaker Azhar did not think it was a matter to be raised immediately.

The Pandora Papers are 2.94 terabytes of data anonymously leaked to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, comprising more than 600 journalists from 150 media outlets worldwide.

About three years ago, then lawyer Azhar aka Art Harun would have easily concurred with Anwar over this issue.

In dismissing the request to discuss the leaked information by opposition leader Anwar, Azhar cited Standing Order 23(1)(i) to support his argument that MPs are not allowed to use media reports to bring up issues in the august chamber.

This contention curiously contradicts the position Azhar took three years ago when he passionately argued that if a “huge scandal” broke out in the country that was reported by, say, Asian Wall Street Journal, then, he added, it was urgent enough to be brought up for query and discussion by parliamentarians.

In one of his past talk shows organised by The Malaysian Insight, Azhar was fervently critical of former Dewan Rakyat speakers, particularly Pandikar Amin Mulia, whom he considered had failed to act professionally and fairly, and who was inclined to dismiss requests from the opposition to debate matters of urgency and public importance.

He further opined that a speaker worth his or her salt ought to be fiercely independent and to have integrity.

Surely, capital flight involving such a humongous quantum would have qualified the definition of urgency, especially if it possibly has a certain impact on our economy and the well-being of ordinary Malaysians.

Moreover, the debate on this urgent matter would be very much in line with the important principles of transparency and accountability, which are essential in parliamentary democracy.

Speaker Azhar may insist that this matter is not urgent, but concerned Malaysians outside of the august chamber would rather that it be discussed without delay at the highest governing body in the land.

Malaysians are generally nervous when it comes to the question of politicians having large amounts of money stashed in banks and other financial institutions elsewhere in the world.

One cannot blame the ordinary people for behaving that way as they have witnessed numerous embezzlement and other financial scandals, particularly those involving public funds, over the years.

Furthermore, Anwar claimed that this issue had emerged since 2012 as mentioned in the 2012 Global Financial Integrity Report, and yet no action was taken.

While the politicians and others implicated in the Pandora Papers may not have committed anything illegal, concerned Malaysians would nonetheless like to see robust debate on this matter. If a deeper investigation is needed arising from such conversation, so be it.  

At the very least, Malaysians generally would like to understand why certain rich and powerful people park a big chunk of their money overseas, instead of investing it in Malaysia for the benefit of the local economy that has now been devastated by the epidemic.

It would be an injustice to the people if their representatives are denied the urgency to discuss a matter of public concern and importance. – October 7, 2021.