KUALA LUMPUR – DAP Youth is calling for a motion in the Dewan Rakyat to overturn Deputy Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon’s move to reject motions filed by MPs to unseat the speaker.
Wing chief Howard Lee urged Bagan Datuk MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Umno president, to submit a “substantive motion” in accordance with Article 43 of the Standing Orders to overturn Rashid’s “unparliamentary and undemocratic ruling”.
Article 43 states that the speaker’s decision on any point of order shall not be open to appeal and shall not be reviewed by the House, “except upon a substantive motion moved for that purpose”.
It adds that such a motion shall not require more than two days’ notice.
On September 1, Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun confirmed receiving more than a dozen motions seeking his removal.
He chose to recuse himself from making a decision, citing conflict of interest, and left the matter to his deputy Rashid.
Among the motions rejected by Rashid are those raised by Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil of PKR and Pulai’s Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub of Amanah.
In a statement, Lee said Zahid recently raised two proposals that “ruffled some feathers” – the first to remove Azhar as speaker, and the second, nominating Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said to take over the post.
“These substantive and valid submissions were snubbed outright.
“The House speaker is afforded the power to exert finality on whether or not certain matters are to be entered into the House’s order of business.
“But, Article 99 of the parliamentary Standing Orders expressly states that absolute finality lies upon the House itself.”
Article 99 stipulates that the speaker’s decision “on any point of interpretation of any of these Standing Orders, or upon any matter of practice”, shall be final, subject to a substantive motion moved for that purpose.
“It is unadulteratedly clear that, under the circumstances where the ruling of the presiding speaker is called into question – in this case, very much so – the said ruling can and must be subjected to the House for review,” said Lee.
Lee, who is also Pasir Pinji assemblyman and Pakatan Harapan Youth deputy chief, said Zahid, as president of the largest party in the majority bloc of the House, should table the motion.
“Denying the House its say on such a matter is blatantly and purposely ignoring the palpitating pulse of the House. That itself constitutes a grave failure, and is a traitorous – if not treacherous – act against parliamentary democracy.
“The speaker has consistently courted controversy and brought accusations unto Parliament of being a ‘House of ill repute’ since his very installation.”
He added that Azhar may not even garner sufficient support from among the majority bloc.
‘Azalina as speaker agreeable by both sides’
Lee said the nomination of Pengerang MP Azalina, who announced her resignation as deputy speaker on August 23, to the speaker’s seat is a sound one.
“Her conduct both within and outside the House during her service as deputy speaker has provided hope for the realisation of many democratic reforms.”
He said Azalina’s “agreeableness” by both sides of the House is better than that enjoyed by Azhar.
“It is with the above thoughts – founded on facts, parliamentary conventions, and the Standing Orders, no less – that I urge the honourable member from Bagan Datuk to submit a substantive motion in accordance with Article 43 of the Standing Orders to overturn the deputy speaker’s unparliamentary and undemocratic ruling.
“Let’s not forget how the sitting speaker has brought the House ill repute; it must be up to the House itself to decide who presides.” – The Vibes, September 11, 2021
