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KUALA LUMPUR (May 20, 2008): The government has decided to withdraw the Special Complaints Commission (SCC) Bill 2007 which was tabled for first reading in Parliament last Dec 13, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said in a written reply today.

He told Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh) who asked whether the government will set up the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) as suggested by the Royal Commission.

Last year, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said the cabinet has decided to postpone to March this year the tabling of the bill for second reading in the Dewan Rakyat.

The decision was made to give sufficient time to MPs to read and understand the Bill but many quarters had voiced disappointment over the absence of consultation with the public on the contents of the bill.

The Bill was drawn up following recommendations by a 16-member commission to enhance the operations and management of the police force chaired by former Chief Justice Tan Sri Dzaiddin Abdullah.

However, Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) had said the SCC was totally different from the proposed IPCMC as it was weak and flawed and Amnesty International Malaysia said it lacks independence and powers to check and balance.

Opposition MPs twice tried to refer Azalina to Committee of Privileges

KUALA LUMPUR (May 20, 2008): Opposition MPs twice called for Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said to be referred to the Committee of Privileges while winding up the debate for her ministry in Parliament today.

Azalina first riled Opposition members when she said the signature events in the Opposition-led states were dropped because of a negative experience in Kelantan before.

"We have experienced it in Kelantan, whereby the staff of the State Tourism Action Council (MPTN) were not paid (their salary) for three months," she said to a point raised by Mohd Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak).

She then told Nga Kor Ming (DAP-Taiping), who said she should have displayed a more respected political maturity, that the decision was made because of the contradicting policies between those practised by the federal and state governments.

This prompted shouts of protests from Opposition MPs like M. Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat) and N. Gobalakrishnan (PKR-Padang Serai) and many of them stood up to argue, including Nga and Mohd Azmin.

However, Azalina continued with her speech despite the noise in the background coming from both MPs and Deputy Speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee who repeatedly asked them to take their seats as the minister did not wish to give way.

Later, Datuk Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah (PAS-Kota Baru) raised a point of order, saying Azalina had used impolite words when she said the PAS-led Kelantan government had not paid the salary of MPTN staff for three months.

"I would like to state here, there has never been an incident where PAS did not pay their salary," he said, to be corrected by Kiandee that it does not constitute an impolite language as stated in the Standing Order.

Azalina then explained that she was informed about this by a ministry officer and promised she will write a reply to Wan Abdul Rahim and stressed that she will not withdraw what she has said.

She then said the Barisan Nasional (BN) government does not discriminate Opposition-led states, saying under the 9th Malaysia Plan, some RM980,000 has been allocated for various tourism programmes in Kelantan.

Mohd Azmin then stood up to raise Article 36(12) and 26(1)(p), suggesting that Azalina be referred to the committee because she has confused the House and he said he has black and white proof to support his argument.

"I have proof that on March 25, 2008, the Tourism Minister decided for programmes under the signature events to be dropped and she had instructed the people concerned not to include them in their calendar of events or other promotional activities.

"But now, she is saying they were not dropped. She must be referred to the committee as she has confused the House," he said, followed by Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) who stood up to second the proposal.

According to Article 36(12), any member who gave statements that mislead the House is deemed to be in contempt of the House and the member may be referred to the committee for the offence.

And under 26(1)(p), a motion relating to a matter of privilege does not need a notice to be proposed, unless provided otherwise by the Standing Order.

However, Kiandee said there is no need for her to be referred to the committee as the situation did not reach to that extent.

Mohd Azmin disagreed, saying a decision should be made by way of a ballot and the Speaker does not have to apply his discretion. This was supported by Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah).

Later, after the lunch break, when Azalina continued with her speech, Wan Abdul Rahim stood up again to say he has checked the fact with five relevant persons in Kelantan and found that MPTN staff are actually paid by the federal government and not state government.

He also questioned Azalina’s statement as the incident happened in 2002 while she only held the position for two months, adding Azalina should be referred to the committee.

However, Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia ruled that the matter was considered hearsay as both had different arguments, therefore, he asked both Azalina and Wan Abdul Rahim to write to the Speaker to explain their points.