KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 — Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia ruled today that the House will no longer allow questions on the RM2.6 billion political donation controversy, saying it would be considered subjudice to answer them.
The Speaker explained his decision in an eight-page notice to all federal lawmakers, where he referred to the Bar Council judicial review on the Attorney-General’s decision to close the case and also a lawsuit filed against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on the matter.
“This matter falls under Standing Order 23(1)(g), as this matter is under court consideration,” Pandikar said.
He also said that answering questions on the matter will “compromise the interests” of individuals involved in these court battles.
“This is taking into consideration the Attorney-General’s statement that the prime minister did not commit any criminal offence relating to this matter,” he said.
Last week, Pandikar had chided Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman for purportedly overstepping her authority in stating that all questions on the controversy cannot be answered as they were subjudice.
He also previously said that he will decide on a “case by case” basis if subjudice can be cited in answering certain questions.
PKR’s Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin later filed a motion seeking Pandikar’s ruling on the matter, which led to today’s decision.
Last week, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and two others filed a lawsuit against Najib for alleged “abuse of power” in the handling of the RM 2.6 billion saga.
