Hiding behind immunity of parliament ungentlemanly conduct - Pandikar

The move by three former ministers who touched on matters subject to the provisions of the Official Secrets Act (OSA) and decide to hide behind the immunity of Parliament is "an ungentlemanly conduct," says Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia.

The Dewan Rakyat Speaker said as a member of Parliament, they should be more dignified and not hide behind the privilege, merely to empower their personal agenda.

He said ministers who took their oath of secrecy but did not agree with the stand of the government should resign.

"But no, after they had been sacked, they started making statements in Parliament, to me as the Speaker this is ungentlemanly as they were hiding behind the immunity of Parliament," he said.

Pandikar said the three former ministers should have stated their views when they were in their respective positions and not after they had been dropped or resigned.

Pandikar made the statement following a move by Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Gelang Patah) in the house earlier which questioned Pandikar on actions taken against the three former ministers who touched on matters under the Official Secrets Act in Parliament last week.

The three former ministers were former Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, former Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and former Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah. -- BERNAMA