PAP MP for Bukit Batok SMC Murali Pillai misrepresented PSP secretary-general and NCMP Leong Mun Wai in parliament.
However, he has been spared the blushes of having to apologise today by fellow PAP MP and Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng.
Leong claimed that Murali has “imputed improper motives to him” during a parliamentary debate on 3 August, when he said that Leong was “advocating for rent control”.
No such statement was made by Leong.
When questioned by Leong, Murali persistently denied what he had said, even though it was captured in parliamentary records, and refused to retract his words or apologise.
Leong said that Murali had “confused the public and created the misleading impression” that he was “accusing” Murali.
He subsequently filed a complaint, saying that Murali had contravened Standing Order 50(6) of Parliament, which states that “No Member shall impute improper motives to any other Member.”
Today in parliament, Speaker Seah ruled that Murali did not make any statemen that suggested or impute any “improper motive” to Leong.
Seah said that Leong and Murali had “differing views” of what each meant when they referred to rent control, but “that is the nature of Parliamentary exchanges and debates”.
Seah then closed the matter, saying that there was no breach of privilege.
The Speaker’s decision in such matters is final, and there is no avenue for appeal.
