KUALA LUMPUR – Will there be a third deputy Dewan Rakyat speaker?
Law Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar is not put off by the idea, saying a third deputy would help lighten the workload.
He told Malaysiakini that the burden on the speaker and his two deputies is getting heavier.
Having a third deputy speaker is a good idea, he added, but the matter has yet to be discussed in earnest.
He said as a cabinet member, he does not want to overstep the government by getting ahead of the issue.
“The cabinet has not made a decision. So, I cannot elaborate further,” he was quoted as saying.
The issue of electing a deputy speaker is on the Parliament Order Paper after Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said resigned on August 23.
Just a week ago, Pontian MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan was nominated to replace Azalina by Umno.
On September 11, he proposed 20 recommendations for parliamentary reforms should he be appointed to the post.
Among his proposals include having three deputy speakers – one of whom is appointed from the opposition while another, a representative from Sabah or Sarawak.
However, his nomination was criticised as he is facing trial for money laundering and providing a false statement to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission over RM2 million he received from former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in 2013.
Recently, Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon had rejected motions of no-confidence filed by Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil and Pulai MP Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub.
The application filed by Fahmi and Salahuddin sought to put forth a motion to remove Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun.
Several media outlets reported Azhar’s confirmation that he received more than a dozen motions seeking his removal as speaker. – The Vibes, September 14, 2021
