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{
    "id": 578830,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/578830/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 265,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Nassir",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2433,
        "legal_name": "Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir",
        "slug": "abdulswamad-sheriff-nassir"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I would like to go contrary to my colleagues. I do not support these particular amendments. When we come up with laws, we need to understand that they are not for this current Parliament, but will continue for other Parliaments as well. As much as we need to ensure we are protected, when I look at the amendments proposed in this Bill that: “A Member of Parliament is not liable in an action suit in respect of anything done, or omitted to be done in good faith in the lawful performance of a function of Parliament”. The problem is that, as Parliamentarians, we may end up taking this a notch higher. The question ends up being: What is going to be defined as the performance of Parliament and whether I can come out, give a press release and my views. Does that mean it is my obligation, as a Member of Parliament - or it is me as an individual - for my own political interest, I can decide to go out to a public rally? Does it mean I am performing my duty as a Member of Parliament and I need to be protected? So, as much as we and our interests need to be protected so that we do not have cases in future, I think the wording in this can be totally changed. I ask my colleagues to forgive me. But the way we are and, as my colleague has indicated, when they were fighting liquor, that became an issue. If they are being sued by individuals who feel they had been trespassed, was he doing his job as a Member of Parliament at that particular time when he was going to destroy illicit liquor? I am worried that we are going to create trends. This House is going to give birth to tyrants. What is going to happen is that one person will go to a certain place and decide to destroy and use his privileges as a Member of Parliament to say anything and no one can stop them. Through the history of this House, it has given birth to excellent leaders but, at the same time, this House has also given birth to characters that have not really represented the true face of what this House deserves. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}