Malaysiakini
The veteran DAP politician says there is a precedent for such a move, and that Anwar should be present at the screening.
Karpal Singh has called on the authorities to screen the Carcosa sex video in Parliament, as Parliamentary immunity will absolve the MPs from any criminal liability.
The Bukit Gelugor MP (karpal) added that there was already a precedent to such a move.
“Making the tape available for public viewing certainly falls foul of section 5(1) of the Film Censorship Act 2002 and section 292 of the Penal Code.
“However, screening the tape within the four walls of Parliament would give it Parliamentary immunity for all Members of Parliament from criminal or any other liability,” said Karpal, a veteran lawyer.
Karpal said the precedent was set in 1992 in relation to the deputy speaker DP Vijandran sex video.
He described how he had in December 1989 suggested a public viewing of the said videotape of the MIC member.
“However, in 1992 ...I had, to avoid any infringement of the various provisions of the law then relating to possession and viewing of pornographic material, handed the pornographic videotape to the then deputy speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, Ong Tee Keat, who was in the chair in the course of Parliamentary proceedings,” said Karpal.
Vijandran, who was also former MIC secretary-general, was forced to resign as deputy speaker in 1989 as a result of the videotape scandal.
'A useful precedent'
Karpal described how he had, in 1992 during his Parliamentary debate on a Bill related to white collar crime, walked up to Ong (below) to hand him the videotape.
“It had always been thought that the DP Vijandran pornographic videotape existed only in my own imagination. The speaker accepted the pornographic videotape, although he appeared somewhat taken aback and shocked,” he said.
Karpal explained that he did this to secure Parliamentary immunity.
“It is a matter of record that I was not charged for any offence...and neither was the speaker charged for possession of the pornographic videotape or for any other offence,” said the lawyer.
“This precedent I set way back in 1992 is a useful one now,” said Karpal.
He suggested that MPs be given the chance to view the Carcosa sex video under Parliamentary immunity, “in order to ascertain whether it is, in fact, Anwar Ibrahim who is the male actor in the videotape,” he said.
He called upon speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia to “seriously consider” his request, adding that Anwar should be given the opportunity to be present.
He added that Pandikar Amin could hold Anwar's suspension for a day “in the public interest” to facilitate this.
'No question of hypocrisy'
Karpal's statement today is likely a response to criticisms from Parti Kita reported in New Straits Times (NST) today, although the DAP chairperson did not mention any specific critics.
NST's article 'Hypocritical view on sex video' quoted Kita committee member Muhammad Firdaus Christopher calling him a hypocrite for insisting on the arrests of the Datuk T trio when he himself had called for a public screening of the Vijandran video.
“I must make it clear, my stand on public viewing of pornographic material is against the law,” said Karpal.
“My stand with regard to the DP Vijandran pornographic videotape of 1992, after review of my position in 1989, does not in any way conflict with my stand against the Datuk T trio publicly causing the pornographic videotape allegedly involving Anwar Ibrahim to be viewed,” said Karpal.
“The question of hypocrisy in relation to my stands on the subject does not arise,” he said.
Ibrahim Ali presses for RCI
Meanwhile Sin Chew Daily reported today that Pasir Mas MP Ibrahim Ali will raise a special motion in Parliament tomorrow to request a Royal Commission of Investigation to identify the man in the video.
Ibrahim, who is also Perkasa chief, said after officiating Kedah Perkasa's new office today, that only a Royal Commission can settle the matter of the sex video.
”Since the police has confirmed the video to be authentic, I think people also want to know who the man in the video is,” said Ibrahim.
He also suggested Pakatan Rakyat leaders to be among the commissioners, including PKR president Wan Azizah, PAS president Hadi Awang and DAP leader Lim Kit Siang.
The controversial Perkasa leader said he did not understand why people believed Anwar's arguments before the matter has been investigated, reported Sin Chew.
The veteran DAP politician says there is a precedent for such a move, and that Anwar should be present at the screening.
Karpal Singh has called on the authorities to screen the Carcosa sex video in Parliament, as Parliamentary immunity will absolve the MPs from any criminal liability.
The Bukit Gelugor MP (karpal) added that there was already a precedent to such a move.
“Making the tape available for public viewing certainly falls foul of section 5(1) of the Film Censorship Act 2002 and section 292 of the Penal Code.
“However, screening the tape within the four walls of Parliament would give it Parliamentary immunity for all Members of Parliament from criminal or any other liability,” said Karpal, a veteran lawyer.
Karpal said the precedent was set in 1992 in relation to the deputy speaker DP Vijandran sex video.
He described how he had in December 1989 suggested a public viewing of the said videotape of the MIC member.
“However, in 1992 ...I had, to avoid any infringement of the various provisions of the law then relating to possession and viewing of pornographic material, handed the pornographic videotape to the then deputy speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, Ong Tee Keat, who was in the chair in the course of Parliamentary proceedings,” said Karpal.
Vijandran, who was also former MIC secretary-general, was forced to resign as deputy speaker in 1989 as a result of the videotape scandal.
'A useful precedent'
Karpal described how he had, in 1992 during his Parliamentary debate on a Bill related to white collar crime, walked up to Ong (below) to hand him the videotape.
“It had always been thought that the DP Vijandran pornographic videotape existed only in my own imagination. The speaker accepted the pornographic videotape, although he appeared somewhat taken aback and shocked,” he said.
Karpal explained that he did this to secure Parliamentary immunity.
“It is a matter of record that I was not charged for any offence...and neither was the speaker charged for possession of the pornographic videotape or for any other offence,” said the lawyer.
“This precedent I set way back in 1992 is a useful one now,” said Karpal.
He suggested that MPs be given the chance to view the Carcosa sex video under Parliamentary immunity, “in order to ascertain whether it is, in fact, Anwar Ibrahim who is the male actor in the videotape,” he said.
He called upon speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia to “seriously consider” his request, adding that Anwar should be given the opportunity to be present.
He added that Pandikar Amin could hold Anwar's suspension for a day “in the public interest” to facilitate this.
'No question of hypocrisy'
Karpal's statement today is likely a response to criticisms from Parti Kita reported in New Straits Times (NST) today, although the DAP chairperson did not mention any specific critics.
NST's article 'Hypocritical view on sex video' quoted Kita committee member Muhammad Firdaus Christopher calling him a hypocrite for insisting on the arrests of the Datuk T trio when he himself had called for a public screening of the Vijandran video.
“I must make it clear, my stand on public viewing of pornographic material is against the law,” said Karpal.
“My stand with regard to the DP Vijandran pornographic videotape of 1992, after review of my position in 1989, does not in any way conflict with my stand against the Datuk T trio publicly causing the pornographic videotape allegedly involving Anwar Ibrahim to be viewed,” said Karpal.
“The question of hypocrisy in relation to my stands on the subject does not arise,” he said.
Ibrahim Ali presses for RCI
Meanwhile Sin Chew Daily reported today that Pasir Mas MP Ibrahim Ali will raise a special motion in Parliament tomorrow to request a Royal Commission of Investigation to identify the man in the video.
Ibrahim, who is also Perkasa chief, said after officiating Kedah Perkasa's new office today, that only a Royal Commission can settle the matter of the sex video.
”Since the police has confirmed the video to be authentic, I think people also want to know who the man in the video is,” said Ibrahim.
He also suggested Pakatan Rakyat leaders to be among the commissioners, including PKR president Wan Azizah, PAS president Hadi Awang and DAP leader Lim Kit Siang.
The controversial Perkasa leader said he did not understand why people believed Anwar's arguments before the matter has been investigated, reported Sin Chew.
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