The Star

AN opposition MP expressed dissatisfaction that emergency motions tabled to discuss the death of a national service trainee and the Internal Security Act were rejected by the Speaker.

M. Manogaran (DAP - Teluk Intan) said he was upset that there was no chance to debate both issues.

“If the death of a national service trainee is regarded as non-urgent to discuss in the Dewan, I do not know what else is urgent,” said Manogaran.

Manogaran was referring to Fong Po Kuan (DAP – Batu Gajah)’s emergency motion to debate the latest death of a trainee on Tuesday which was dismissed on the ground that it was not urgent.

Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said although the trainees’ well-being was a matter of concern, the Government had already taken steps to improve the health and safety levels at the camps.

Earlier, M. Kulasegaran’s (DAP - Ipoh Barat) emergency motion related to the Internal Security Act (ISA) was also rejected by the Speaker.

Opposition Leader Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, in a statement issued yesterday, also said her emergency motion to urge the Government to make the Lingam tape report public and to table the report in Parliament was also rejected.

She said that the motion should have been allowed if the Government was serious in restoring the integrity of the judiciary.