Semua jadi 'bengong' bawah kerajaan BN pimpinan Pak Lah Badawi , terbaru tengok ni............. Speaker defends arrests at Parliament

KUALA LUMPUR: Parliament is a restricted area and police can arrest those who pose a security threat, said Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib.

According to Section 4 (2) of the Protected Areas and Protected Places Act, he said, a person must comply with directions to regulate his movement and conduct.

Special measures, he added, could be taken to control such person’s movements and conduct as deemed fit.

“This is to ensure that security is maintained and proceedings are not disrupted.
“However, I will discuss with the police on the procedures when it comes to Parliament for future undertakings,” he said after question time ended.

On Tuesday, 16 Opposition MPs staged a walkout to protest the arrest of six people within the Parliament grounds who came to hand over a memorandum opposing the amendment to extend Election Commission members' retirement age from 65 to 66.

Ramli’s explanation did not go down well with Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP -Ipoh Timur).

“Parliament is a place of sanctity and cannot be encroached upon. There are far-reaching consequences, as we don’t want to be the laughing stock. Does this mean that MPs too will get arrested one day in Parliament?” he said.

“It appears that Parliament’s sanctity has been narrowed down to the Chambers alone. This is shocking and totally unacceptable,” he said.

Karpal Singh (DAP - Bukit Gelugor) said the arrests within Parliament grounds had not occurred ever since he became an MP.

“It does not give us a good image. The Speaker should have defended the sanctity and honour of Parliament,” he said.