Wan Fayhsal, who has been suspended for six months, said it was unreasonable for him to be barred from even sitting in the Dewan Rakyat’s public gallery to follow proceedings.

“Today’s decision is disappointing,” he said at a press conference in Parliament.

“I do not understand the Speaker’s argument. How can an observer pose problems?”

Earlier today, Johari ruled that suspended MPs are barred from entering the lower house and can monitor proceedings from outside the Dewan Rakyat.

He also said that allowing Wan Fayhsal to enter the lower house would “create a lot of problems”.

Johari was responding to Perikatan Nasional chief whip Takiyuddin Hassan, who had requested that Wan Fayhsal be allowed to sit in the public gallery in the lower house to follow proceedings.

The Machang MP was suspended for six months in July after referencing a poison-pen letter naming the alleged mastermind of the Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd privatisation deal.

On Oct 21, Wan Fayhsal told FMT that a sergeant-at-arms had prevented him from entering the Dewan Rakyat’s gallery during the first day of the current session, citing a letter from Johari.