Leo Camoens said Pandikar Amin Mulia only has power over control of proceedings when the Dewan Rakyat is in session.
“I still have doubt as to whether the speaker has the authority to prohibit journalists from interviewing MPs and ministers at the lobby,” said Leo, a former journalist who also served as a National Union of Journalist (NUJ) executive council member.
Leo said Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Aziz’s response that he would propose to the cabinet that a space be allocated in the lobby was a clear indication that the speaker was wrong.
“The speaker should not act like a little dictator to say his power extends up to the Parliament car park.”
He said this in response to Pandikar’s ruling yesterday which barred reporters from the lobby of Parliament where journalists would normally interview ministers and deputy ministers.
The second-term speaker had said many MPs felt uncomfortable as the lobby had become crowded and almost like a “picnic place”.
Pandikar added that reporters would now be allowed to cover sittings only from the media centre one floor down.
Leo said any matter outside the Dewan Rakyat chambers was left to the minister in charge of parliamentary affairs, Azalina Said Othman.
“The speaker’s ruling is also an infringement on the right of the public to receive information without any restrictions.”
Leo said journalists or their organisation could challenge the speaker’s decision in court as several constitutional rights were breached.
He said no speakers in the past had restricted the movement of journalists when the Dewan Rakyat was in session.
“I wonder about the motive for resorting to this extreme step. Is something big likely to happen in due course?”
The NUJ had also condemned the ban as being akin to obstructing journalists from carrying out their duties.
Former senior journalist Syed Nadzri Syed Harun said it was unfair to say the lobby had become a “picnic place” as journalists were there to perform their duty.