'A tragedy', says PAS as Anwar suspended

Harakahdaily

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16: In a strong reaction to the six-month suspension of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim from attending parliamentary proceedings, Pakatan Rakyat members of parliament staged a walk-out after Speaker Pandikar Amin announced the decision bypassing any debate. Anwar's suspension over his statement that the government's image consultant APCO Worldwide - a company with links to Israeli politicians - got the inspiration for the 1Malaysia slogan from the 'One Israel' slogan not long ago, was recommended by the Rights and Privileges committee comprised of BN MPs who did not want to call Anwar to state his defence. Opposition representatives had earlier quit the Committee in protest for not wanting to hear Anwar's defence. The Committee instead had based its decision solely on a letter from APCO denying Anwar's allegation. Earlier during a noisy session, Pandikar threatened to use his powers to suspend all PR MPs who demanded him to recuse himself from chairing the meeting. The MPs said there was a conflict of interest as Pandikar was also the chairman of the Rights and Privileges committee which recommended Anwar's suspension based on APCO's letter. Earlier this year, minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz said Anwar had misled the House by suggesting that several Israeli political leaders were on APCO’s board of director and the company had also undertaken a similar "One Israel" campaign for Tel Aviv not long ago, resembling the 1Malaysia concept for which APCO has been tasked to promote. 'Black tragedy' Meanwhile, PAS president Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang said today's suspension only materialised the earlier fear of a "black tragedy" in the country’s democracy. “This is a tragedy in country’s democracy. This happens at a time when national leaders called for Parliament to have international standards, but the same group of people have demolished the institution to represent the people in the country,” he told Harakahdaily before the decision to suspend Anwar was formalised. Hadi, who is also Marang MP, also blasted the decision not to allow Anwar to defend himself, saying it was "a big mistake" and only showed "the ignorance of those involved in the process". Hadi added that the government not only failed to give a proper reply, but also failed to provide a satisfactory answer on Anwar’s allegation on APCO.