KUALA LUMPUR (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Chaos broke out at the Malaysia Parliament on Wednesday morning (March 28), ahead of the tabling of the Election Commission's redelineation report, with the suspension of opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) stalwart Lim Kit Siang.
The Gelang Patah lawmaker was instructed by Parliament Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia to leave the House for refusing to sit down and interrupting the proceedings.
Lim had demanded an explanation on why the motion of the redelineation was embargoed after it was kept on the tables of Members of Parliament last Thursday.
Tan Sri Pandikar Amin did not respond to Mr Lim, instead saying he would use his powers under Standing Order 44 (2), which allows the Speaker to suspend a Member of Parliament.
Sittind down quietly, Mr Lim smiled and said he only wanted a clarification on his question. "I feel ashamed to be in this honourable House but I will still remain here, despite being ashamed," he said.
A commotion ensued and words were exchanged between lawmakers from both sides of the divide.
Other opposition lawmakers said it was the Speaker's moral obligation to explain why the motion was still going on despite pending court cases, saying that this was sub judice.
Pandikar Amin repeatedly told lawmakers to sit down or he would exercise his powers under Standing Order 44(3), then asked a minister to put in a motion to suspend Mr Lim.
This created further commotion when several lawmakers cried foul, saying it was undemocratic.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Azalina Othman Said then moved a motion to suspend Mr Lim, while opposition MPs argued that the matter should be put to a debate.
Pandikar Amin then called for a temporary adjournment of the proceedings.
"You know the powers of the Speaker ... I am saddened by what is happening now. Everything is politicised," he said.
"I am temporarily adjourning the Dewan (Parliament) but when I come back, the instructions to suspend YB Gelang Patah (Lim) and for him to be ejected out of the Dewan will be continued," he added.
"If he refuses, I will instruct the police to escort him and others who refuse to be sent out, and proceedings will continue," said Pandikar Amin.
Mr Lim was given a six-month suspension from Parliament.
