COMPLAINT AGAINST THE EDITOR, PUBLISHER AND PRINTER OF THE WORKERS' PARTY PUBLICATION

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mr Speaker: I wish to inform hon. Members that on the 9th February, 1987 I received to hand a complaint, dated the 6th February, 1987, from the then Leader of the House, Mr S. Dhanabalan, against the Editor, Publisher and Printer of the Workers' Party publication "The Hammer", of contempt of the Committee of Privileges in an article "Committee of Privilege Hearing/Jeya denied fair hearing" which appeared on page 8 of the January/February 1987 issue of the publication.

Being satisfied that the matter complained of prima facie affects the privileges of Parliament, I referred the matter to the Committee of Privileges on the same day, namely, the 9th February, 1987.

I shall ask the Clerk to circulate copies of the complaint to hon. Members in the course of today.

I have, in respect of this complaint, suspended Mr Dhanabalan, the complainant, from the service of the Committee of Privileges and have nominated Prof. S. Jayakumar in his place.