KUALA LUMPUR, 2 March 2009: The police will only enter the Parliament House compound if they are authorised to do so and are summoned by the Speaker, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said today.
“As has been the practice, the police do not intervene in anything that happens in the Parliament compound and in the House unless they are asked to do so,” he said when winding up the debate pertaining to his ministry during the motion of thanks on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s address in the Dewan Rakyat.
Syed Hamid was providing an explanation to Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) who wanted to know whether police would protect MPs if they were threatened while in Parliament.
Last week, Gobind’s father, DAP chairperson Karpal Singh was mobbed by a group of Umno Youth members who tried to prevent him from entering Parliament unless he offered them an apology for calling the youth wing “celaka”.
The response by the security at Parliament was disappointing, said observers.
“PM was right”
Syed Hamid also said that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had done nothing wrong when he suggested that newly-installed Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir lodge a police report following his suspension from the Perak legislative assembly.
Syed Hamid said the police report against the Perak Speaker, V Sivakumar, for suspending Zambry and six state executive councillors was allowed in law as it could serve as a record prior to Zambry taking civil action.
“As such, it is unnecessary to link this matter with assumptions which are incorrect and smack of slander and negative perceptions,” Syed Hamid said.
Police should stay out
Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said that personally he did not agree with police intervention in the parliamentary process.
“Unless invited, the police do not have the authority to enter (Parliament House).
“Previously, I objected to police providing security at the car park and for removing 14 files from Parliament House. I did not raise the matter. This is my stand,” he said without elaborating on the incident. — Bernama
