Nurul Izzah Anwar » Human Rights

Family still can’t reconcile with Teoh’s death

nanwar1 — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 06:14:09 +0000

Lee Way Loon
Jul 17, 10
1:51pm

A year has passed since the tragic passing of Teoh Beng Hock, but his family is still unable to come to terms with his death.

During an emotional speech at Beng Hock’s memorial last night, his younger sister Lee Lan said her family’s inability to reconcile with the death was due to the lack of answers forthcoming from the authorities.

Often fighting back tears, Lee Lan appealed to the 1,000-strong crowd at the Kuala Lumpur-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall to offer “nothing but support” for the family’s fight for the truth.

“Your support gives us strength. I’m standing here before you because my family is seeking justice. Our family cannot reconcile with (Beng Hock’s) death.

“He was a good young man and he had left us. He didn’t even have the opportunity to cradle his own baby,” said Lee Lan, referring to Teoh’s son, born recently.

“We are not asking for much, only justice. We are worried that we may not have enough strength to pull through,” she said.

Lee Lan has over the past year been the main spokesperson for Beng Hock’s family.

Family worried inquest will be inconclusive

Lee Lan’s speech was punctuated with sombre applause at every major junction, while tears flowed for some among the audience.

“The inquest will soon come to an end and we are worried that the finding would be inconclusive. That is why we hope you will support us.

“We don’t know how long this will take, but we promise that we will pursue (the truth) till the end and I hope you will all stand by us,” said Lee Lan, who at one point apologised for not being a good orator.

After Lee Lan’s short speech, a short tribute video clip was screened depicting Beng Hock’s happier moments.

The video clip featured Beng Hock’s photographs and his last known video recording, albeit only his voice could be heard as he was behind the camera.

Earlier, Beng Hock’s family, along with DAP leaders and their Pakatan Rakyat comrades, took to the stage in a solemn ceremony to place red palm prints on a massive banner.

Rosmah dragged in too

Following this, Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng spoke in a lengthy speech casting doubts at the authorities’ attempt to paint Beng Hock’s death as a suicide.

Guan Eng, as he had done many times before, reasoned to the crowd that there was no way Beng Hock would have committed suicide as he was due to register his marriage to his pregnant
sweetheart, Soh Cher Wei, the day after he was grilled by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

“I want to ask Najib: Would you commit suicide if you’re going to marry Rosmah tomorrow?” asked Guan Eng.

While most of the crowd shouted “No”, a significant portion shouted “Yes! Yes!” breaking the mood of the otherwise sombre memorial event.

Realising that his attempt to trigger an uniform response was not very successful, Guan Eng quickly added, “No! Because he loves Rosmah!”, forcing most of his audience to laugh.

Thus, according to Guan Eng, to argue that Beng Hock commit suicide was illogical.

“No one believes this. Only the wicked, and those who want to insult Beng Hock’s family, would say so,” he said.

One year is too long

Guan Eng also lambasted the authorities for failing to provide answers to Beng Hock’s family although a year had passed.

Comparing investigations on Beng Hock’s death to that of pop superstar Michael Jackson, Guan Eng said the the probe into the latter’s death was swift.

“Michael Jackson died on June 25. It has been one year and the person responsible (for his death) is already being punished.

“Beng Hock died a year ago and we are still as far from the truth as we were a year ago,” he said.

Guan Eng then jokingly suggested that the authorities should employ the services of the investigation team into Jackson’s death to expedite the probe into Beng Hock’s death.

Guan Eng was among a long list of speakers during the memorial, which included DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang, Selangor legislative assembly speaker Teng Chang Khim and Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar.

MACC chief flayed

In her speech, Nurul Izzah said Beng Hock’s mysterious death and her father Anwar Ibrahim’s arsenic poisoning incident were reasons for the people’s struggle for reforms.

“A student once told me that while the arsenic incident did not cause anyone to die, now a person being investigated by MACC can result in death,” she said.

In view of this, Nurul Izzah said that the people must not give up hope that the system can be reformed in order for justice to prevail.

Meanwhile, Kit Siang lambasted MACC chief Abu Kassim Mohamed for issuing a statement of condolence a year after Teoh’s death, but also for initially issuing the statement only in Mandarin.

“It is only after public outcry did an English and Bahasa statement appear on their website,” he said.

He added that this has put a large question mark on Abu Kassim’s sincerity and integrity.

Photo credit: Andrew Ong

PM’s aides stymie Sabah green activists

nanwar1 — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 05:04:23 +0000

Joe Fernandez
Jul 19, 10
4:19pm

Green activists in Sabah are getting increasingly jittery as the authorities play hide-and-seek with public opinion on a proposed 300MW coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu.

They turned up at three places – two in Kota Kinabalu and one in Lahad Datu – yesterday to express their concerns over the controversial project.

Prime Minister Mohd Najib Abdul Razak (right), who was in Kota Kinabalu yesterday, was again prevented by his aides from receiving a memorandum on energy options for Sabah put together by Green Surf, an alliance of anti-coal NGOs in the state.

Green Surf activist Cynthia Ong expressed fears that Najib may not be getting the correct information on the plant.

“There are local, national and global movements against this plant. All we wanted was a few moments of his time to explain our stand,” she said.

This is the second such disappointment for the movement which wants to put the permier’s ‘People First, Performance Now’ administration to the test.

Activists had visited Kuala Lumpur last month where they tried to corner Najib in Parliament House, with a memorandum for him. However, he gave them the slip as his aides tied up the activists in delaying tactics.

Yesterday, too, more than 400 villagers from Kampung Sinakut and Lahad Datu protested with banners at Sinakut, the proposed site of the plant in their area (left, artist’s impresion) or anywhere else in the state.

They were led by Kampung Sinakut chief Jimi Uddin, 55, who denied that they were in favour of the coal plant.

“The authorities claim that we are squatters and will be relocated to Sungai Merah which is away from the sea,” said Jimi who has been living in the village since 1970.

“We are fishermen and we depend on the sea. We also have seaweed farms which help us out with extra income.”

The villagers wanted their demonstration to coincide with Najib’s visit. They hoped that their message – ‘we are not squatters, no to the coal plant, no to relocation’ – would get through to the prime minister.

“Over 200 people drove up from Lahad Datu to express their solidarity with the villagers of Sinakut who will be uprooted to make way for the project,” said Vincent Ng of the Sabah Environment Protection Association, a component of Green Surf.

He said the people of Lahad Datu also want to impress upon the Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) that they are strongly opposed to the plant . He noted that the east coast town will be the first to experience the negative environmental impact of the ‘dirty energy’ option.

Concerns ‘not relieved’

Green Surf NGOs turned up in full force at the SESB Open Day, also held yesterday in Kota Kinabalu.

“Briefing after briefing, and all they do is raise even more questions than relieving us on our concerns,” said WorldWide Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia policy analyst Lanash Thanda.

“We want to know that no local community will be affected adversely. The state government has promised sustainability and conservation while promoting tourism.”

Lanash wanted panelists at the Open Day to share with participants the details on the type of coal mined, the company that would be dealing with the trade and the exact location of the mine. But she was brushed aside by a panelist with the excuse that “SESB has nothing to hide and furthermore, nothing can be made public due to commercial considerations”.

WWF, a Green Surf member, is not only concerned about the community in Lahad Datu but also that in Kalimantan which has been tipped to provide the coal for the plant, according to Lanash.

“We have to think globally and ensure that we don’t create problems in Kalimantan in addition to those in Lahad Datu.”

Lanash expressed the worry that Sabah had no definite energy policy and was going from crisis to crisis “based on a bundle of contradictions”.

She noted that SESB’s excuse was that the state does not have sufficient biomass and LNG reserves but, at the same time, it is prepared to embrace coal which cannot be mined in Sabah since the only known reserves are in the Malaiu Basin, a world heritage site.

“Why ship our gas to Bintulu (Sarawak) and Japan and end up buying a dirty commodity like coal from Kalimantan? These are questions to which the panelists could not provide any answers. We are being kept in the dark,” she said.

Lanash stressed that Sabahans are losing out in terms of jobs and contracts in the petroleum and petrochemical sector as the resources are being exported to the benefit of other places in Malaysia, including several states without oil reserves, and to other countries.

She expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which the Environmental Impact Assessment for the proposed coal plant had been carried out.

The methodology used was that for coral reefs, according to her, while Sinakut was largely nipah swamp and mangrove until the late 1980s “which means the bottom is still muddy”.

Sinakut is important for prawns and fish breeding, said Lanash, adding that most of Sabah’s prawns and lobsters come from here.

‘Breathing time’ needed

A panelist inadvertently let the cat out of the bag when he admitted that the proposed coal plant would not use clean coal technology as trumpeted in the media by the Sabah power monopoly. Instead, the plant would now meet “Department of Environment (DOE) standards”.

“There’s a big difference between clean coal technology and meeting DOE standards,” fumed S. M Muthu from the Malaysian Nature Society.

“If you are not using clean coal technology, how can you say that you will be meeting DOE standards? It does not make sense.”

SESB senior general manager for operations, Abdul Razak Sallim, said the power utility cannot afford to experiment with unproven energy sources.

“The 25-year life span of the coal plant and technology will give SESB the breathing time needed to consider alternative energy options,” he said.

Nurul: Disclose report on Norhashimah’s tragic death

nanwar1 — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:13:29 +0000

Tuesday, 13 July 2010 19:01 Adrian Phung

The government has been urged to disclose the Public Service Department’s internal investigation report on the tragic death of Training and Diplomatic Officer, Norhashimah Wahid to the public.

There are unanswered questions regarding her death and the government’s refusal to reveal details of the investigation not only makes the situation worse but also deepens the grief of the victim’s family, Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

Nurul Izzah added that she did not want to politicise this issue but had the responsibility to speak out about the incident so that appropriate action would be taken to prevent similar tragedies from happening again.

“Norhashimah died while she was under the care of the National Institute of Public Administration (INTAN) so suitable compensation should be given to the victim’s family and not an ex-gratia payment.” she added.

An ex-gratia compensation was inadequate as Nurul Izzah felt that it would reflect on the attitude of the Prime Minister’s Department in letting go the issue and was not concerned about the irresponsible officials or coaches who were in charge.

According to Nurul Izzah, she did some research and found out that Tuntas Consultancy Sdn Bhd, which was owned by the sons of former Kuala Langat MP Datuk Dr Shafie Salleh, was awarded the contract of fully managing the training stint located at the Training Academy of Innovation And Motivation.

She wanted to know if the contract was awarded to the company because of political connections and why the government did not initiate action against it, adding that the government should confirm whether it was true that Tuntas Consultancy undertook the training exercise.

Commenting on this issue, Batu MP Chua Tian Chang said this was not the first time that death occurred at national service training camps and no one was held responsible, causing pain and sorrow to the victim’s family members.

Full story here

Death of PTD officer: Umno-linked company off the hook?

nanwar1 — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:25:42 +0000

Free Malaysia Today

By Rahmah Ghazali TUE, 13 JUL 2010 18:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Lembah Pantai MP Izzah Anwar today questioned the government’s decision not to charge the company responsible for training diplomatic and administrative officers with Nor Hashimah Wahid’s death on May 31.

Nurul Izzah said the Umno-linked company, Tuntas Consultancy Sdn Bhd, was awarded a government contract to oversee the training centres and as such, should also be held responsible.

She said it was grossly unfair to only “transfer” the six government officers involved in the programme and “free” the company, which is owned by the off-springs of former Higher Education Minister and ex-Kuala Langat MP Shafie Salleh.

“Why are the government servants made the scapegoats?

“If it is true that the contract was given to Tuntas, why are their instructors let off the hook?” she asked.

She has also questioned the type of training provided by the firm and the quality of the instructors.

Nor Hashimah, who fell unconscious during the commando-style training, died after drifting in and out of consciousness for four days. She died of severe pneumonia with multiple organ failure.

Following this, many reports have indicated that the 30-year-old mother was “bullied” and was even made to drink a “stocking juice” by an instructor at Selangor Enforcement Training Centre in Jugra, Banting.

Nor Hashimah’s family has alleged that the camp management only took her to Banting Hospital when her condition worsened and she had breathing difficulties.

She was warded for a day but was forced to continue with her training after her discharge.

Nurul Izzah also expressed her disappointment with the ex-gratia settlement paid by the government to the victim’s family as compensation.

“The payment made is nothing out of the ordinary as it is usually paid to those who died of natural causes (unlike Nor Hashimah’s),” she said.

Expanding Pakatan bullish on next GE

nanwar1 — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 10:36:10 +0000

By Shannon Teoh

July 05, 2010

Pakatan Rakyat leaders attend the launch of FoPR in London yesterday, July 4, 2010. — Picture by Danny Lim

LONDON, July 5 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders continued their bullish stance towards a possible snap election by insisting that they would win big, when launching an outreach programme here yesterday.

Despite losing five MPs this year, they further taunted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak by stating that the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition was running scared.

“Umno is in a state of panic. They see enemies everywhere,” PR secretariat chief Datuk Zaid Ibrahim told a crowd of over 200 at the launch of Friends of Pakatan Rakyat (FoPR) in London.

Other leaders at the FoPR launch, such as PAS treasurer Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli, DAP’s Kepong MP Dr Tan Seng Giaw and Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, were also confident of expanding their historic wins in Election 2008 into the next general election, which must be held by 2013.

Their upbeat mood followed Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s statement last week that PR would be ready should BN opt to dissolve Parliament early.

The government’s reluctance to upset the majority Malays has led to policy reversals and reform pullbacks that are fuelling talk Najib may be readying to get his own mandate as prime minister. The last election was led by Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who stepped down in April 2009.

Najib raised constituency allocations for BN MPs from RM1 million to RM1.5 million last month, leading to further speculation.

Dr Hatta expressed his belief that there was a significant possibility of a snap election after Umno vice president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said yesterday that the time had come for BN to go to the polls to prove that they have overcome past mistakes.

“If it’s in September, we will win big. If it’s next year, we will win even bigger,” the Kuala Krai MP said.

Zaid added that “ministers are talking rubbish all the time, because they are panicking over early elections.

“When you start banning newspapers, charging people for sedition and play races against each other and manufacture enemies, that’s the sign of an emerging fascist government. We cannot afford to let that happen,” the former de facto law minister said.

He also claimed that the constant persecution of opposition figures while Umno figures got away with outrageous statements was evidence that the Malay party had “destroyed all sense of fairness in the system.”

“Najib can blatantly buy elections by promising millions because they know they will never be prosecuted,” he said, referring to his recent defeat in the Hulu Selangor by-elections where the prime minister handed out millions to sway voters including RM3 million he promised to a Chinese school if BN won the poll as well, as in the Sibu by-election where the prime minister made a similar appeal.

Nurul Izzah expounded on how PR was more than just “not BN”, but a viable alternative today.

Nurul, who is Anwar’s eldest daughter, stressed that PR had established a Common Policy Framework; while in Selangor, it has introduced a select committee to ensure the integrity of lawmakers and are set to table the Freedom of Information Act in the state assembly.

“The only innovation from BN is Perkasa,” she said, referring to the Malay rights group led by Pasir Mas MP Datuk Ibrahim Ali.

“Change will come and [the] next general election will not be something easily forgotten by BN,” she promised.

Dr Hatta added that in the last elections, DAP, PKR and PAS had only formed an electoral pact to avoid three-corner fights and campaigned individually, whereas this time they would campaign together and make sacrifices for each other.

“This administration should have been over in the last general election. Victory is within reach,” he said.

Dr Tan also insisted that PR would not wait to capture government state-by-state but would be taking over both federal and state governments “simultaneously.”

“While we cannot ensure that PR will be 100 per cent clean once we are in government, we promise that we will show no mercy to those who are corrupt. We must have integrity,” the DAP vice-chairman said.

The Launch of Friends of Pakatan Rakyat

nanwar1 — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:38:59 +0000

Friday, 02 July 2010

Friends of Pakatan Rakyat (FPR) is being officially launched as an organisation to rally the support of Malaysians who share the vision of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition for a better Malaysia. The launch will be held on the Sunday 4th of July 2010 in London and officiated by Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, the Pakatan Rakyat Secretariat Coordinator.

Speakers at the event will also include the ineffable Raja Petra Kamarudin as well as speakers from PAS and DAP together with a number of civil society activists sharing their experiences in shaping the agenda of change in Malaysia.

Naturally we would like to attract as many as possible particularly the “unconverted” to experience first hand the depth of support that currently exists globally amongst Malaysians living abroad particularly in the UK. The Friends of Pakatan Rakyat (FOPR) movement is currently being duplicated in various countries throughout Europe, Canada, USA, New Zealand, Australia, Asia, etc. The objective is to harness the global strength of highly qualified Malaysians and former Malaysians living and working abroad to tap into their expertise and financial strength in preparedness for GE 13.

Date: Sunday 4th of July

Time: 10.30 am to 4pm.
Registration begins at 10am

Venue: Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, Holborn, London WC1R 4RL

Map: http://tinyurl.com/35d6kre

The programme for the day is as follows:
1000 Registration
Meet civil society activists

1100 Introduction & Welcome address by MC in the Main Hall

1110 Opening Address by Pro tem Chairman of Friends of Pakatan Rakyat – Brian Morais

1130 Speech by Raja Petra Kamarudin, Malaysia Today

1150 Speech by YB Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP Deputy Chairman and 7th Term MP Kepong

1210 Introduction to Civil Society Movements
Fair Comment
Abolish ISA Movement UK
Malaysia Freedom Film Festival
1225 Speech by Ustaz Idris Ahmad, Ketua Penerangan PAS

1245 Canapès & Lunch served by Mango Tree, Top Fine
Cuisine Restaurant, Belgravia, London … www.mangotree.org.uk

1400 Keynote speech by Pakatan Rakyat Secretariat Coordinator for PKR – Datuk Zaid Ibrahim

1430 Speech by YB Nurul Izzah Anwar, PKR MP for Lembah Pantai

1500 Q & A session

1630 End of Conference
This event will represent the largest gathering of overseas Malaysians max. possible 500 people, to demand a nation that we can all be proud and call home.

Do bring along your entire family.

For those with young children families, provisions will be made for a playroom and creche.

To join us on this momentous occasion, please indicate your interest by registering online athttp://www.eventbrite.com/event/714363681.

Do register early as seats are limited and pass this invitation to your other friends.

Be part of the torch that lights the spirit of hope for Malaysia.

FRIENDS OF PAKATAN RAKYAT

Know Your Rights! My Constitution: A Dialogue

nanwar1 — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:48:59 +0000

Date : Saturday, 03 July 2010

Time: 10:30 – 12:30

Location: Leonardo’s Dining Room,

61-2, Jalan Bangkung, Bukit Bandaraya 59100

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Pusat Khidmat Lembah Pantai & Bar Council of Malaysia presents: MyConstitution: A Dialogue
Limited space available, for reservation, please call 012-9199 245

Come and join us!

Suara Keadilan suspended

nanwar1 — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:19:03 +0000

By Patrick Lee FRI, 02 JUL 2010 14:22

FULL REPORT PETALING JAYA: The Home Ministry has suspended the printing permit of PKR organ Suara Keadilan.

The decision came three days after the ministry slapped the publication with a seven-day deadline to explain a controversial article.

“After discussing the matter yesterday, the ministry came to the conclusion that it is not satisfied with the answer given by Suara Keadilan,” said the ministry’s al-Quran and text control department secretary Zaitun Samad in a statement.

According to Zaitun, the decision was made after reviewing the newspaper’s reply to the ministry’s show-cause letter on Tuesday regarding the “Felda Bankrupt” article in its June 22-29 edition.

She said the ministry received the reply on June 30 and held a meeting the next day to discuss the matter with regard to the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

“We have sent a letter to Suara Keadilan’s printers instructing them to discontinue publication until a decision is made regarding the paper’s request for a permit renewal,” she added.

Lawyer: We’re not surprised

Suara Keadilan’s lawyer Shamsul Iskandar told FMT that he was not surprised by the ministry’s decision.

He also claimed that Suara Keadilan never received the three show-cause letters supposedly sent by the ministry.

When Suara Keadilan met with ministry officials on Monday, they were told that it was not the ministry’s responsibility to provide them with copies of the letters.

The paper was then told through Zaitun that it would be furnished with these letters for its benefit.

“It didn’t matter, because they went ahead and suspended our permit,” Shamsul said. “We have fully cooperated with the ministry and asked for a bit of time to come out with the response to these letters.”

Shamsul also said that Suara Keadilan was not informed of the ministry’s decision and had to learn about it through the media.

FMT also learnt that Suara Keadilan’s editors would be attending a special meeting tonight regarding the matter.

Asked if the paper had the right to appeal against the decision, Shamsul said that it was possible but it was up to the ministry to consider it.

‘Political interference’

In an immediate response, PKR leader Tan Kee Kwong condemned the government’s decision to suspend Suara Keadilan’s permit.

“Nobody knows what the hell is going on. But when people want to tell the truth, you ban them,” he said.

The former land and cooperatives deputy minister was the first to break the news on Felda’s alleged cash reserve loss in early June.

Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar described the ministry’s decision as “a clear-cut example of political interference”.

“The Felda suit has yet to be heard in court, and the ministry has already taken action,” she said, referring to Felda’s announcement yesterday that it would sue the PKR organ for RM200 million.

Nurul Izzah also criticised the government over its lack of seriousness in allowing media freedom in the country.

Asked if PKR expected the suspension, she said: “We were expecting the worst, but we did not think it would be as swift as this.”

Meanwhile, the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) believes the home ministry’s action was to send a message to the other publications.

“The ministry has control over all publications in the country. It is a consolidation of political power,” said Chuah Siew Eng, the CIJ publicity officer.

“The action against Suara Keadilan is a reminder to the other media (in the country) not to cross the line,” he added.

Statement: Parliamentary Democracy

nanwar1 — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:03:36 +0000

Today, the Malaysian parliament witnesses yet again another onslaught on parliamentary democracy. After subjecting the Opposition Leader to the Rights and Privileges Committee for his exposure on BN Government’s contractual ties with APCO, any semblance of a fair proceeding was further tarnished by denying the Opposition Leader his right to counsel. In addition to that, other Members of parliament were also denied access to the proceedings though convention clearly states the formal practice of allowing us to be presence during such deliberations. What better way to safeguard and demonstrate parliamentary democracy in action than through openly disclosing the Rights and Privileges Committee’s process at work?
The denial today again lends credence to authoritarian tendencies by certain parties, which smacks of bipartisanship and will further discourage other members of Parliament from speaking out on any issues without fear or favour.

I reiterate the need for the Rights and Privileges Committee to respect democracy by reaching the fullest standards of transparency and natural justice in the case involving the Opposition Leader.At the very least, it is crucial that the Opposition Leader and his counsel be present during the investigation stage, including in the sessions involving APCO representatives to ensure they are not only being just, but also seen to do so.

If not, why bother with a committee at all.

Nurul Izzah: Anwar unlikely to get fair hearing in Parliament

nanwar1 — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 13:39:21 +0000

FREE MALAYSIA TODAY

TUE, 08 JUN 2010 17:57

KUALA LUMPUR: Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar today reiterated the need for the parliamentary Rights and Privileges Committee to respect democracy and adhere to convention.

She said it was vital that the committee practises the fullest standards of transparency and natural justice in the case involving Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

“At the very least, it is crucial that Anwar and his counsel be present during the investigation stage, including in the sessions involving Apco representatives to ensure they are not only being just, but also seen to do so,” she said in a statement today.

Nurul Izzah was responding to the committee’s decision to disallow legal representation for Anwar when he testifies.

The committee is chaired by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia with members comprising deputy speaker Ronald Kiandee, Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugur), Fong Chan Onn (BN-Alor Gajah), Razali Ibrahim (BN-Muar), Nancy Shukri (BN-Batang Sadong) and R Sivarasa (PKR-Subang).

The committee today informed Anwar that he cannot be represented by his lawyer at the hearing. The decision was made after the committee members took a vote on the matter.

Karpal said his and Sivarasa’s votes for Anwar to have the right to legal representation were outweighed by the four BN MPs.

MPs not allowed too

The committee also decided to deny other members of parliament access to the proceedings.

In an immediate reaction, Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo said he will be forwarding a letter to the committee demanding an explanation on why other MPs were not allowed to attend the proceeding.

Meanwhile, Nurul Izzah also queried the reasoning behind the decision to bar MPs from the hearing.

“The convention clearly allows us to be present during such deliberations.

“What better way to safeguard and demonstrate parliamentary democracy in action than through openly disclosing the Rights and Privileges Committee’s process at work?

“But once again we bear witnesses to another assault on parliamentary democracy. Any semblance of a fair hearing is now tarnished. Why bother with the committee at all?” she asked.

Meanwhile, Anwar faces the prospect of a six-month suspension if convicted.

Anwar was referred to the disciplinary committee for his accusation in Parliament linking government-employed public relations outfit, Apco Worldwide, to Israel.

Anwar had requested yesterday for a public hearing and not the usual closed-door proceeding.