Azhar had said, based on what he read on the issue, the monies involved in the Pandora Papers was not about the outflow of money to accounts abroad, but on shareholdings in offshore firms.

“So it’s not an outflow of money as you said,” he told Anwar.

“They are two different matters. And I see that some of the shares, according to statements outside, were worth little, not to the billions. Some were just five (British) pounds only, if I’m not mistaken.”

Anwar then maintained that, if this was true, the individuals involved in the data leak should simply explain their side to the house.

“How can a minister, for example, hold shares there? And if this is not from the outflow of money from here, then where is it from? Let it be debated. If only five pounds, then fine, five pounds.

“I don’t know why you’re becoming a lawyer for these people,” said Anwar.

Anwar maintained that they had no reason to have so much money stored in accounts abroad.

Azhar replied: “I don’t want to be a lawyer for them, I’m just setting the facts straight. You mentioned ‘hundreds of billions’, but the Pandora Papers is not about the outflow of hundreds of billions.”

Earlier, Anwar had urged Azhar to allow for the issue to be discussed in the Dewan Rakyat, saying it was necessary for those named to offer an explanation to the house and for Putrajaya to hold a probe on the matter.

Azhar said Anwar’s latest motion was submitted under the wrong Standing Orders, which forced him to reject it. He maintained that his decision is final.

However, he said Anwar could still submit a review of this decision under Rule 43 of the Standing Orders, which states that a decision of the Speaker can only be reviewed upon a “substantive motion moved for that purpose”.

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