Pandikar cannot take action for statement made outside Parliament: Ngeh

KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia has no right to take parliamentary action against three DAP lawmakers for calling for his resignation.
This is because the remarks made by the trio – Batu Gajah MP V. Sivakumar, Beruas MP Ngeh Khoo Ham (pix), and Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming – was done outside the Dewan Rakyat.
In a press conference, Ngeh, therefore, called for Pandikar to withdraw his threats against the three as the speaker has no such power outside the dewan.
"I have been advised by my lawyer that the Speaker has no power whatsoever to take action against the three of us as our statement was made outside of Parliament.
"His recourse against us – if he is of the opinion that we have defamed him – is to file a defamation suit," he told reporters at Parliament.
In a joint statement on March 6, the trio had demanded for Pandikar to step down for disallowing an emergency motion to debate the seizure of the Equanimity and questions related to 1Malaysia Development Berhad.
On Wednesday, Pandikar in a letter addressed to the lawmakers had told them to apologise or face stern action.
Ngeh said the Standing Order does not give the speaker arbitrary power to take action against parliamentarians.