KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia today claimed that he knew of the Opposition’s planned walkout a day before the tabling of the 2017 Budget.
Raising his voice and visibly distraught, Pandikar told the Dewan Rakyat that the walkout made it seem as if he was the one who had kicked them out, when it was actually planned beforehand.
“Don't play games with me. Play games between you politicians."
Asked on what he had meant by "games", he said the walkout was "just a matter of timing."
“Do you all think that I cannot hear anything? Messages came to me that there would be a walkout ‘tomorrow’ (day of the 2017 Budget tabling)."
Just before that, Pandikar was involved in a heated dialogue with Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) when the latter questioned him on disallowing debates regarding the United States Department of Justice civil complaint on 1Malaysia Development Bhd.
Pandikar clarified that he disallowed the motion as it was subjudice during only the question and answer sessions, and not debates.
Gobind however, was seen as "putting the speaker down" and finding fault through the issue.
"For that, I apologise for my mistake in saying debate instead of question and answer session.
"But it seems that you are using this one word to put me down."
Gobind later apologised and denied any ill-intentions towards the Speaker.