KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said has resigned from the position as deputy Dewan Rakyat speaker to allow the current government and opposition to reset the lower house.
In a Facebook post today, the Pengerang MP said that she will continue to support any reforms coming from both sides of the political divide.
“With the appointment of the new prime minister, and the public’s loud and clear demand for multiparty cooperation.
I have tendered my resignation today to vacate my seat so that the government and the opposition may have more room to reset our Dewan Rakyat so that this august House can truly function as the forum for professional competition and collaboration between parties on policies and governance.”
The stern and feisty, but highly respected, former deputy speaker also gave other reasons behind her decision to step down.
Among them include her personal belief that there is a conflict of interest between her responsibility as an Umno Supreme Council member and as an MP in the ruling coalition.
She said that past events have revealed conflicting decisions within Umno as a political body and MPs of a coalition administration.
In future, speakers and deputy speakers of the lower house should be suspended from any political party posts to ensure political impartiality, which is a key feature of the office, so he or she can effectively function without fear or favour.”
Azalina also reflected over the institutional defects in Malaysia’s parliamentary institutions over the past 17 months.
She admitted that there were limitations in her ability to discharge her duties well without compromising her professional integrity.
Throughout her tenure, the Johorean ‘cili padi’ made her personal values pertaining to the rule of law, parliamentary democracy, checks and balances since the emergency proclamation was made in January 2021, very clear in her social media posts.
“My frustration and distress are public knowledge, and the reasons known. My official capacity is warranted by law and processes, which is to uphold the federal constitution and Standing Orders of the lower house at all costs,” she admitted.
Similarly, she also revealed that a lack of consultation and joint decision making had affected her ability to perform the role.
Based on the lower house’s Standing Orders, a deputy speaker cannot make his or her own ruling in the Dewan Rakyat.
“Shared decision-making and responsibility, impartiality, fairness, and mutual respect are the key elements which I wish to see in the Malaysian Parliament,” said Azalina. – The Vibes, August 23, 2021
