Denied legal representation in Right and Privilege hearing.MPs also denied to view the processding.
OPPOSITION Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was denied the right to have his lawyer Datuk S. Ambiga present during a Rights and Privileges Committee hearing which started this afternoon.
Anwar, who is accused of misleading the house over the Apco Worldwide issue, attended the first part of the meeting but was asked to leave shortly afterwards.
Committee members Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) and R. Sivarasa (PKR-Subang) said it was disappointing the majority of the members voted against Anwar having legal representation during the hearing.
Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia chaired today's meeting. The committee members present, besides Karpal and Sivarasa, were deputy speaker Datuk Ronald Kiandee, Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn (BN-Alor Gajah), Datuk Razali Ibrahim (BN-Muar) and Nancy Shukri (BN-Batang Sadong).
"Anwar has been denied the privilege to appear with counsel, the position which was taken by four members (excluding the speaker) but Sivarasa and I were against it," Karpal, the DAP national chairman, said.
He said Standing Order 83 rule 7(A) states the committee has the right to allow counsel for anyone who appears before it.
Karpal said the proceeding has been adjourned to tomorrow but Anwar will not be present.
Sivarasa said Anwar's absence is against the laws of natural justice "because you can’t take evidence in the absence of the accused".
"We take a serious view of what has happened. We thought Anwar should not just be given the right of counsel but the right to be represented by a counsel," he said.
He also said the committee has called representatives from Apco Worldwide for tomorrow 's hearing.
Anwar was referred to the committee in March after he was accused of misleading the house over his claim that the 1Malaysia concept was linked to the One Israel campaign. Anwar had alleged that Apco conceptualised both the campaigns.
The motion to refer Anwar to the committee was passed after a heated debate by seven MPs, including Anwar.
Earlier in the day, Anwar was called to appear before the committee but was asked to leave while the committee deliberated on his formal request on Monday for an open hearing and legal representation.
Several MPs wanted to be observers of the hearing but their request was denied and they were sent out of the hearing room immediately.
"It's clear cut. The rules clearly state that MPs are allowed, so we objected," Gobind Singh (DAP-Puchong) told reporters.
He said said he would write to the committee to ask for the reasons for barring MPs from the hearing.
The committee continued its hearing without Anwar to decide if Anwar’s lawyer, former Bar Council president Ambiga, could be present as an observer.
Anwar said he wanted his lawyer present and this was was initially agreed to by the committee although there were no decision on the role of the counsel.
"There was no clear decision on the role -- whether (she) is to sit and whisper to me or to be able to submit on particular substantive issues on a point of law because, otherwise, it is going to be difficult for us to proceed," he said.
"So the speaker was kind enough to say that this needs to be deliberated further by the committee and I will be duly informed.""
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