KUALA LUMPUR (June 24): The Dewan Rakyat passed a motion on Monday to refer Tasek Gelugor Member of Parliament Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan to the Rights and Privileges Committee.

The motion comes following allegations made by Wan Saiful during Dewan Rakyat sessions on Feb 28 and March 21. He claimed that his corruption charges could be dropped if he declared support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The motion, tabled by Law and Institutional Reform Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, stated that Wan Saiful's remarks on matters currently under court consideration "could be construed as detrimental to the interests of the parties in the case".

Opposition members of Parliament stood up to protest against the decision of Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul to allow the motion. The committee is chaired by the lower house’s speaker and made up of six members usually appointed at the beginning of each Parliament.

Bersatu chief whip Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee (Perikatan Nasional-Beluran) said the motion is sub judice, as it concerns an ongoing court case involving Wan Saiful. However, Johari dismissed the claim, and stated that Wan Saiful would be given the opportunity to explain himself to the committee.

The motion was eventually passed with a voice vote, leading opposition MPs to stage a walkout in protest from the Dewan Rakyat.

In October last year, Wan Saiful allegedly received RM6.96 million into an account of WSA Advisory Group Sdn Bhd, where he is a director, and allegedly solicited RM232 million over the Central Spine Road project from the federal government.

The money-laundering charges are related to the alleged graft he received, with Wan Saiful accused of committing money laundering between Aug 12 and Nov 7, 2022, using funds from WSA Advisory.

Wan Saiful has pleaded not guilty to 18 counts of money laundering. 

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