KUALA LUMPUR: Former ministers who divulge confidential government information to the public, and even in Parliament, have broken their oaths of secrecy, said Parliament Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia.
Speaking to reporters at the Parliament today, he said any information obtained during a minister’s tenure in office cannot be divulged to anyone even after they were no longer ministers.
“In the Parliament, you can talk about anything (owing to Parliamentary immunity) during the debate and you might not face any action but there are laws such as the Official Secrets Act and the Sedition Act.
“I urge members of Parliament to be careful when debating even when you know about certain issues because there are laws and prohibitions,” he advised.
Yesterday, Pagoh MP (PPBM) Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who was a former deputy prime minister, had questioned the government’s ability to keep promises made in the 2017 Budget as issues regarding 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and the debts it has incurred were unresolved.
On Monday, Tambun MP (Independent) Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah, a former second finance minister, had said the country could still face economic repercussions if the 1MDB issue was not addressed properly even if BN won the next general election.
Semporna MP (Warisan Sabah) Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, former rural and regional development minister, questioned several government decisions on 1MDB during the debate on the Supply Bill in Parliament on Tuesday.
Pandikar said according to the reports on what these MPs have mentioned during the Parliamentary sitting, they have revealed information obtained during their tenure as ministers.
“When you have taken the oath of secrecy, you cannot divulge any information during your tenure as it is unethical,” he stressed.