Opposition walks out over DNA Bill

KUALA LUMPUR: The contentious DNA Identification Bill has its second reading passed by the House after the Opposition staged a walkout following the Government’s refusal to refer it to a select committee.

The Dewan had earlier failed to reach a compromise after the Opposition insisted on sending the Bill to a select committee despite an offer from Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar to defer its third and last reading to after the Budget in mid-December.

At Parliament Lobby, he said the Opposition walkout was a way for the bloc to “prevent being shamed because they would have lost if the matter was taken to a vote.”

“We could have pushed through this bill but we didn’t want to.

“I’m disappointed as I have told them earlier in my discussion with them that if they insisted on bringing it to select committee, we would call for a block voting,” he said, adding that the Government’s offer was to ensure a “non-partisan” Bill.

Deputy Speaker Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar had a difficult time controlling the House with both backbenchers and Opposition members giving full vent to their frustration.

At this time, both Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim were present. Attendance in the House was almost full.

At around 5.45pm, the Opposition trooped out en masse.

When approached, Anwar said the Opposition walked out because the minister had refused to respond to its requests.

“So, there’s no point in staying and participating in the debate. This is really disappointing because the Government is still in a state of denial and don’t care about public sentiment,” he said.

Earlier, members of the bloc had also ignored the warning of Speaker Tan Seri Pandikar Amin Mulia against trying to do so as such an attempt would have been defeated at a vote.

The Opposition had argued for the Bill to be referred to a committee in order for more time to scrutinise various clauses including one which purportedly makes DNA samples conclusive evidence in court. They claimed such clauses contain defects.

Syed Hamid in winding up the Bill at second reading said : “It (DNA evidence) is not a conclusive tool but it is part of the process of providing statements.''

“It will exonerate the innocence and identify the guilty,” he said this while replying Karpal Singh (DAP - Bukit Gelugor).

He also assured the opposition MPs that the provisions in the bill would not allow the police to misuse their power and manipulate the law.

“If the police misuse their power, I will be the first minister to resign,” he said.

Thursday morning, Anwar made his first appearance in the House after being sworn in as MP to participate briefly in the debate on the DNA Identification Bill.

The PKR adviser, who had left the Dewan Rakyat earlier upon being sworn in, walked in around noon bearing a briefcase while Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud (PAS - Kota Raja) held the floor with her take on the DNA Identification Bill.

After Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN - Pasir Salak) interjected to ask Dr Siti Mariah whether the Bar Council "was a credible body" in the first place to cast doubts on the Bill, Anwar stood up.

"Don't Yang Berhormat agree with me that the one with no credibility is the corruption-ridden Government?

"This is the Government which tabled a Bill last Monday, giving no opportunity to MPs, including those of friends from the other side, to study it, and presented it with malicious intention.

"This is a Bill which has seen opposition from both the Bar Council and non-governmental groups," he said, adding that the Opposition would support any Bill that would benefit the people.

"But we are against the method employed by the Government to push this Bill through without taking heed of the public's voice," he said.

The Opposition had argued that the Bill was "politically motivated" in light of the sodomy case against Anwar.

This led to MPs like Dr Hatta Ramli (PAS - Kuala Krai), Lim Kit Siang (DAP - Ipoh Timor) and Dr Lo' Lo' Ghazali (PAS - Titiwangsa) to interject as well.

At one point, a shouting match erupted between Tajuddin and Lim, watched on by an amused Anwar.

He finally left the Dewan around 12.15pm.

To placate everyone, Dr Siti Mariah said she agreed with everyone's points - even Tajuddin's, prompting a few chuckles.