Zaqy Mohamad on Leong Mun Wai breaching Parliamentary privilege

In Parliament on Tuesday (Mar 8), Deputy Leader of the House Zaqy Mohamad said NCMP Leong Mun Wai had impugned the Speaker and the process of Parliament and misrepresented the conduct of the Committee of Supply proceedings for the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) the day before. This was after Mr Leong put up several Facebook posts, including a video, saying he had been deprived of the chance to seek clarification from Manpower Minister Tan See Leng and questioning the basis for that. Mr Zaqy sought a ruling from Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin on the basis for ending the debate on MOM. Mr Tan reiterated points he had made the previous day on the guillotine time, the amount of time given for clarifications and the range of MPs who had made clarifications. Mr Zaqy said Mr Leong’s actions were “dishonourable and a contempt of Parliament and breaches the Parliament (Privileges, Immunities and Powers) Act”. He requested that Mr Leong apologise before the House and on Facebook, withdraw his posts, and undertake not to repeat such words and actions again. He said Mr Leong should do so by the end of the day’s sitting. Depending on Mr Leong’s response, Parliament would then decide whether, and if so what, further steps might be necessary.