Dewan Rakyat Speaker had prior knowledge of Opposition walkout

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia said he had prior knowledge of the Opposition's plot to stage a walkout during the tabling of the Budget 2017 last Friday.

According to him, he had got wind of it a day before the Budget tabling by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

"Do you think I do not hear anything? A message was sent to me from friends that there would be a walkout the next day," he said.

Pandikar Amin said this to MPs in connection to disallowing a discussion of the civil action by the United States' Department of Justice (DoJ) as it was sub judice after the oral question-and-answer session at the Dewan Rakyat sitting here today.

The walkout occurred after Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) asked if the DoJ issue would be discussed during the debate session.

Pandikar Amin said he had made a decision on the matter under the Dewan Rakyat Standing Orders that it could not be discussed as it was sub judice.

READ: Sub judice to discuss DoJ suit in Parliament - Speaker

"Do not mess with me because when I take action, I am serious about it...when I am seated here, be sure that I will do the best for everybody, but do not drag me into any political strategy," he said.

During the tabling of the Budget, the Opposition members of Parliament held up placards and walked out of the Dewan Rakyat. -- Bernama