PETALING JAYA: Opposition MP Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham says he is adamant about taking legal action against a photographer for allegedly defaming him.
In a reply letter to the Speaker of Dewan Rakyat, the Tanah Merah MP denied allegations that he had been vaping in Parliament on Tuesday (Sept 19).
"With all due respect, I plead for your cooperation Tan Sri, to release the video CCTV footage in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday evening, and I request that you provide a copy of the footage to me in order to clear my name," he said in the letter on Wednesday (Sept 27).
Pictures have been circulating on social media depicting Ikmal as holding a pen-like object to his mouth on Tuesday (Sept 19).
Ikmal Hisham had previously denied he was vaping inside the Dewan Rakyat, instead claiming that the cylindrical object was a pen and not a vape device.
"I would also stress that if it is proven that I was actually vaping, I will adhere to all the stern action taken by the Speaker against me based on Parliament's Standing Orders," he added.
However, he said that if it was proven otherwise and the allegations turned out to be false, he appealed to the Speaker to take action under the Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952 as well as the parliamentary Standing Order, for defaming him and damaging his integrity as a parliamentarian.
When contacted, he confirmed that his lawyers had, on Wednesday, served a legal letter on the photographer over the matter.
