Can the Speaker really not gag non-PAC members from 1MDB debates?

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Speaker Cannot Gag Non-PAC Members from 1MDB Debates

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia has clarified that he possesses no authority to prevent individuals who are not members of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) from engaging in debates concerning the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) issue. His ruling on Monday was specifically limited to Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, who is a member of the PAC.
Speaker's Authority Limited to PAC Members

Pandikar Amin Mulia explicitly stated that his powers do not extend to issuing gag orders to individuals who are not part of the PAC. This means that while he could impose restrictions on PAC members, such as Tony Pua, regarding debates on 1MDB, he cannot do the same for those outside the committee. The Speaker's intervention was aimed at preserving the integrity of the PAC's ongoing inquiry into 1MDB.
Ruling Restricted to Tony Pua's Situation

The Speaker's ruling on Monday was precise, applying only to Tony Pua, a member of the PAC, who had sought to debate the 1MDB issue with 1MDB president Arul Kanda Kandasamy. Pandikar had indicated that if Pua wished to debate Arul Kanda, he would either need to resign from the PAC or abstain from its proceedings. Furthermore, Arul Kanda, who was a witness in the PAC's inquiry, would also be barred from testifying if he participated in such a debate.
No Power Over 1MDB President's Statements

When questioned by Pua regarding whether Arul Kanda would still be allowed to appear before the PAC if he engaged in debates with others, Pandikar replied that it was outside his jurisdiction to issue orders against the 1MDB president. This reinforces the distinction between the Speaker's control over parliamentary committee members and his lack of authority over individuals not directly involved with parliamentary committees.
Debate Timing, Not Prohibition, Was the Concern

Pandikar Amin Mulia asserted that his intention was not to block any debate on the 1MDB issue altogether. Instead, he had requested that such discussions be held only after the PAC had formally presented its findings from the 1MDB inquiry to Parliament. This suggested a preference for allowing the official parliamentary process to conclude before public debates on the matter took place.

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Can the Speaker really not gag non-PAC members from 1MDB debates?

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