KUALA LUMPUR (May 16): A question by an opposition lawmaker over Panama Papers was thrown out of Parliament today, as Dewan Rakyat secretary Datuk Roosme Hamzah said questions based solely on newspaper reports will not be entertained.

Earlier, PKR's Alor Setar Member of Parliament Gooi Hsiao Leung asked the finance minister whether the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Bank Negara Malaysia and the Inland Revenue Board have started investigations on parties named in the Panama Papers and if yes, to provide full details and types of investigations.

"A question cannot be made on the veracity of statements in newspapers or statement issued by any person himself or by financial institutions," Roosme said.

Gooi said the Panama Papers leaks in April have created a global impact with countries around the world, initiating investigations on the leaked documents.

The resignation of Iceland's embattled prime minister, Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, was the most prominent fallout from the leaked paper, while British Prime Minister David Cameron had to explain his family's finances, after they were named in the Panama Papers leak.

Gooi noted that in Malaysia, about 2,300 individuals were named in the Panama data leak, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's son Mohd Mazifuddin Najib and former minister of federal territories and urban well-being Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin.

"Why isn't the authorities investigating these individuals? Why can't an MP ask question (about an issue) that has big impact to the country?" Gooi asked.

The Panama Papers are an unprecedented leak of 11.5 million documents, involving 214,000 offshore companies from the database of the world’s fourth biggest offshore law firm, Mossack Fonseca.