Former ministers have violated secrecy oath - Pandikar Amin

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia said former ministers who let out government secrets may face legal action.

"Those who disclose government secrets and information including in the Dewan Rakyat are deemed to have violated the secrecy and ethics oath and legal action may be taken against them," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby here today.

He was commenting on former cabinet members Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah who had questioned several government's decisions primarily on the 1Malaysia Development Bhd when debating on the 2017 Supply Bill.

Pandikar Amin said they had sworn not to disclose any information acquired while they were in office, to the public.

"I used to be a minister and as a minister we had taken the oath. We swore not to disclose to anyone, not even to our wives," he said.

Pandikar Amin said legal action could be taken against them even if no action was taken against them during the Dewan Rakyat proceedings.

He said certain acts such as the Official Secrets Act and the Sedition Act 1948 could be used against the former ministers.

"So my advice to the ministers is to be careful ... but when they stand up (to debate), in front of a microphone, they forget everything about the oath" he said.

He also commented on the action taken by Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, who questioned the appointment of the Dewan Rakyat Speaker and said the Speaker was a disgrace to Parliament after he was sent out of the Special Chamber last Tuesday.

Pandikar Amin said he was disappointed that a MP could utter such a thing when he had done his best in the transformation of the Malaysian Parliament by introducing the Special Chamber and Ministers' Questime Time.

"If I am a disgrace, I am willing to resign, but then Parliament will be quiet as everyone is a disgrace," he said adding that he would not step down as he had a duty to the country. -- BERNAMA