KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 10): Speaker Datuk Azhar Harun said today his rejection of opposition lawmaker Tony Pua's (PH-Damansara) bid to amend the motion of thanks to the ruler in the Dewan Rakyat is final.

Pua had proposed a motion to amend Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan's (BN-Pontian) motion of thanks, to facilitate debate on the need for a special select committee to evaluate the actions taken by the government to recover cash and assets related to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and SRC International Sdn Bhd.

But the speaker rejected Pua's motion.

"I rejected the motion as the proposed amendment has nothing to do with the motion being debated. Standing Order 30(1) states that amendments can only be made if it is related to the motion," Azhar said.

"The other reason why I rejected your motion is because it has to be done via a private motion," he added.

However, Pua argued that the formation of the committee is related to the motion of thanks brought by Ahmad Maslan, as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had touched on issues related to corruption and the nation's institutions in his parliamentary address.

Pua also claimed that his motion was in line with the practice of other Commonwealth democracies such as the UK and Australia.

But Azhar said: "I beg to differ. If that was the case, any other topic could be put into the motion, as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's speech covered many issues.

"My decision is final," added the speaker, before adjourning the sitting for the day following the end of the winding up speeches by ministers.

Pua previously said a special select committee must be set up to look into the steps taken by the government so far in retrieving the 1MDB-related assets, given the settlements made with Goldman Sachs and Riza Aziz.

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