Only PM can call for emergency Parliament sitting - Pandikar Amin

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia said only the Prime Minister can call for an emergency Parliament sitting.

He said that based on Standing Order 4 of the Parliament Act, only the head of the executive (Prime Minister) can do so by submitting a motion to the Speaker.

"Other members of Parliament from both sides of the divide do not have the right to table a motion for an emergency sitting. The right to call for an emergency meeting before the scheduled sitting is only vested with the Prime Minister.

"He is the only one who can write to the Speaker to request for an important matter that the government would like to discuss and I will arrange the sitting. No other person can do it," he told reporters after attending the opening of the 36th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly here Tuesday.

He was commenting on several parties including PKR which insisted on holding an emergency sitting for the Prime Minister, who is also Finance Minister, to clarify issues on the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

He also said that there were no provisions in the Standing Orders which mentioned an MP could table a motion of no confidence against the Prime Minister.

"There is no such provisions. Can I in the name of democracy, western democracy make such standing orders? It looks stupid," he said.

Pandikar Amin stressed that as of today, he had yet to receive any no confidence motion against the Prime Minister.

Asked if such motions could be brought to the Dewan Rakyat, he said:"Each MP is entitled to propose various proposals and but they have to comply with certain standing orders, which required at least two weeks' notice, one week or 24 hours, as the case may be.