Emergency session unnecessary, many other platforms to raise issues - Azalina

The opposition's call for an emergency parliamentary session to discuss the legal action by the United States' Department of Justice (DOJ) to seize assets related to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) is not necessary, according to Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department said the action was a continuation of the old civil suit, which had been discussed in the last parliamentary session.

Furthermore, she said, the opposition also had other platforms at the parliamentary session to raise various issues.

"We now have more than just the question-and-answer session. We have the 'Special Chamber' on Tuesday and Thursday and then we have the Minister's Question Time which also allows them to ask any question.

"So for me, why need an emergency session if they have many platforms to raise any issue, and they had never ceased bringing up issues," she told reporters after a gathering for sahur with security forces personnel at Pos Tanjung Sepang near here, this morning.

She was asked to comment on the statement by opposition chief Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail yesterday that an emergency parliamentary session should be called immediately and for Prime Datuk Seri Najib Razak to initiate the motion.

Meanwhile, she said the prime minister is expected to announce the introduction of a sexual crime court for every state at the launch of the first sexual crime court in Putrajaya next week.

"As I have mentioned before, the enforcement of the sexual crime law meant the government is really serious about tackling sexual crime against children," she said.

-- BERNAMA