THE Dewan Rakyat speaker must look into the claim of Ayer Hitam MP Wee Ka Siong that he was pressured to withdraw his remarks made in Parliament, Johari Ghani said.

The Titiwangsa MP, who chairs the government Backbenchers’ Club, said Speaker Johari Abdul must act swiftly to protect the sanctity of parliamentary proceedings an MP’s ability to discharge his duties.

“Wee’s statement raises alarm bells on multiple levels,” Johari Ghani was reported as saying by FMT.

“Firstly, an MP cannot be pressured by any party into making any sort of statement.

“Secondly, no public officer or businessman should enter into any arrangement designed to put pressure on any MP to do or say anything,” he said.

He said it is potentially a criminal offence to pressure an MP.

Yesterday, Wee, who is the MCA president, told the Dewan Rakyat that he had been threatened by an individual over his remarks in the house last month about the import of eggs from India.

He said he had received a call from a person called “Deepak”, who said he was from J&E Advance Tech Sdn Bhd, to retract his statements.

Wee said the man had threatened him in the name of the Prime Minister’s Office.

Johari said this amounted to executive interference in parliament.

“It may also be tantamount to a breach of discipline of a public servant. Parliament is duty-bound to investigate this matter and see to it that necessary action is taken,” the Umno lawmaker said.

The PMO has said that it views claims of misrepresentation seriously.

It also said it will not hesitate to initiate legal action against those involved.

Businessman Deepak Jaikishan has denied contacting Wee to demand that he retract his statements.

In a statement, Deepak said he does not have Wee’s phone number, adding that he will be consulting his lawyers on legal action over Wee’s claims. – March 16, 2023.