TASEK Gelugor MP Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan is likely to be suspended for six months from the Dewan Rakyat for allegedly making unfounded claims of corruption against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last week.
Action against the Bersatu lawmaker will be done through a motion tabled by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi instead of being referred to the Rights and Privileges Committee.
The motion was listed in the Order Papers in Parliament and is likely to be tabled by Zahid at about noon today (March 5) after the Oral Question Time.
Wan Saiful made the remarks last Wednesday (Feb 28) while debating the motion of thanks on the Royal Address.
According to the Hansard – Parliament’s official transcript – Wan Saiful was commenting on Sultan Ibrahim’s remarks before His Majesty’s installation as the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong that he wanted to hunt down the corrupt.
“Corrupt means abusing power. Ampun Tuanku, the person who abuses their power will have an audience with Your Majesty each week before the cabinet meeting,” Wan Saiful said.
This is a clear reference to Anwar, who as prime minister, has a pre-Cabinet meeting with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong each week.
The allegation triggered an uproar, following which Wan Saiful retracted his remarks upon the instruction of Dewan Rakyat speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul.
According to the motion, Zahid said Wan Saiful’s remark implicitly accused the prime minister of being a leader who abuses his power.
He also said Wan Saiful had cast unfounded aspersions on the prime minister even though the Speaker had repeatedly directed him not to make such statements.
“As such, it is agreed that Wan Saiful must be suspended from serving the meeting (Dewan Rakyat proceedings) for six months from the date this motion is approved,” read the motion. – March 5, 2024
