KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 — The Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat today suggested PKR MP N. Surendran had intentionally sought to be thrown out of Parliament yesterday to appear a “hero” in the eyes of the public.

Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia also pointed to Surendran’s apparent conflict of interest, claiming the MP had raised the matter of death in custody because he would have benefited financially from the matter.

“When he did that, the MP must think whether he has a financial relationship behind the issue ... As a counsel, he should tell the House that he has a personal interest,” Pandikar told reporters here, referring to Surendran.

“Maybe he brought up the issue solely for his own personal interest ... When he gets press coverage, then the MP seems like he is the hero in this issue.”

Surendran was ejected from Dewan Rakyat yesterday over an alleged breach of parliamentary procedure, when he insisted on raising his point of order after repeated explanations from Pandikar.

Later in the Parliament lobby, Surendran told reporters that he wanted to raise the petition by the “desperate” family of P. Karuna Nithi, a man who died in police custody earlier this year.

Surendran, who was back in Dewan Rakyat today after being suspended for only one day instead of the usual two, refuted Pandikar’s conflict of interest allegation by saying that he and other lawyers took up the case voluntarily as a public service.

“It’s completely untrue ... Not one cent am I taking. The issue conflict of interest doesn’t arise,” Surendran said in a separate press conference after Pandikar’s.

“I’m not trying to be hero … everybody knows it’s a matter close to my heart.”

Surendran also alleged that there was enough evidence to prosecute the police officers in the case for causing serious injury to the deceased, without any need for an inquest.

“Why do you need an inquest? Inquest is only when you don’t know what happened,” he added.

Yesterday, Pandikar said it was not his intention to stop Surendran from raising his contention, but the latter had to wait until the meeting was over.

Pandikar said Surendran seemed disrespectful of senior members of the House and reminded other lawmakers not to disrupt the proceedings.

When Surendran insisted on raising a petition, despite repeated explanations from Pandikar, the Speaker ordered the removal of the Padang Serai MP.