KUALA LUMPUR – Amid rife speculation that Umno plans to nominate Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said as the new Dewan Rakyat speaker, the Pengerang MP is choosing to remain mum.
The former deputy speaker told The Vibes that she does not want to comment on the matter.
Yesterday, Malaysiakini quoted a source as saying Umno is of the view that it should have control over the speaker’s position, and that Azalina is the right candidate for the job.
It said two Supreme Council members have confirmed that plans to nominate Azalina are under way, and that party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will submit a motion on it.
Contacted by The Vibes last night, Zahid said it is best to get the details from Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.
“Please ask my secretary-general Ahmad Maslan for more details.”
He did not confirm whether a motion has been sent to Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun seeking a change in the post holder.
Ahmad did not address questions about the speculation on Azalina.
Azhar told The Vibes that he is not at liberty to speak to the media on the issue.
Similarly, his deputy, Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon, refused to divulge details.
“This is insider information in Parliament. Are you an MP? I can’t reveal it to the media,” he told The Vibes.
“This is not a media statement. This is business between the speaker and MPs. I’m sorry.”
On Friday, Azhar confirmed receiving over a dozen motions from lawmakers seeking to unseat him as speaker.
He said he informed the respective MPs that he is not in a position to decide on the matter, citing concerns relating to conflict of interest.
Any decision pertaining to the motions will be left to his deputy, he said.
At the time of writing, Rashid has rejected at least two motions, filed by Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil and Pulai’s Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub.
Experts have said Rashid is well within his rights to reject the motions based on technicalities. – The Vibes, September 5, 2021
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