This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on October 22, 2015.

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has withdrawn the notice on a motion to suspend DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang for accusing Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia of abusing his powers.

This comes after protests from the opposition bloc, who accused the government of jumping the gun and having bad intentions against the Gelang Patah member of parliament.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said retracted the notice under Standing Order 27 after she was instructed to do so by Pandikar.

Opposition federal lawmakers, especially Kit Siang’s colleagues from the DAP, volubly protested against the motion and accused the administration of pre-empting the move even before the veteran leader had given his defence.

“I withdraw the notice under Standing Order 27,” Azalina said.

However, Kit Siang is not off the hook yet because he has yet to apologise or retract his accusations.

The Dewan Rakyat was debating the emergency motion on smoke pollution enveloping Malaysia and this break would allow Kit Siang, according to Pandikar, to ponder his next move. — The Malaysian Insider