Kapar MP will not attend Selcat hearing

By Stephanie Sta Maria


KAPAR: Kapar MP S Manikavasagam will steer clear of the Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) public hearing beginning tomorrow to avoid being in contempt of the Dewan Rakyat.


His lawyer, N Surendran, had yesterday sent a letter to Selcat requesting that it either seek permission from the Dewan Rakyat for Manikavasagam's attendance at the hearing or change the summons to an “invitation”.

According to Surendran, the summons violates Commonwealth parliamentary practices which state that a sitting MP must be “invited” to a public hearing and permission for his attendance must be sought from the Dewan Rakyat first.


“Selcat didn't respond to the first letter,” Surendran told FMT. “I have already sent a second one informing the committee of Manikavasagam's absence tomorrow.”


However, he emphasised that it isn't Manikavasagam's intention to show disrespect to the Selangor State Legislative Assemby or disregard its orders.


“He wants to testify but he is being barred by the law,” Surendran said. “So we have asked that the Selangor State Legislative Assembly request the Dewan Rakyat for leave for him to attend the hearing.”


“Right now, he is being put in a very difficult position. If he attends, he will be in contempt of the Dewan Rakyat. If he doesn't, he will be in contempt of the State Assembly. What is the man to do?”


'I am being silenced'


Manikavasagam echoed his lawyer's sentiments and added that he is also frustrated with a letter he received from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on May 12.


The letter reminded him that all complaints made under Section 29(4) of the MACC Act 2009 must remain confidential and cannot be divulged to anyone besides MACC officials and the public prosecutor until the accused is charged in court under the Act.


“I want to speak but I am being silenced,” Manikavasagam said in frustration. “And only one of my witnesses has been allowed to testify although I have encouraged Selcat to obtain the required written statements from the other four.”


Selcat had last week rejected Manikavasagam's list of witnesses saying that they (the witnesses) needed to provide a written testimony before they could be summoned to the hearing.

Meanwhile, Selcat chairman Teng Chang Khim confirmed that the hearing will continue as scheduled but declined to comment any further.


“It is not appropriate for me to comment on Manikavasagam's presence or absence tomorrow,” he said.