KUALA LUMPUR – Rejecting Pengerang MP’s Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said’s nomination as a speaker is a serious misconduct on the part of Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon, said Beruas MP Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham.
In a statement today, Ngeh said he was shocked to learn that Rashid had rejected Azalina’s nomination made by Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He added that he condemned Rashid’s actions as it is an affront to the highest democratic institution of the nation.
“The role of the speaker and the deputy speaker is to chair and ensure the smooth running of parliamentary sittings. They are in their respective positions through an election by the MPs.
“If MPs propose or decide to make any changes to the speaker or the deputy speaker, they will have no power to deny any such proposed changes.”
Last week, Rashid had also rejected at least two motions, filed by Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil and Pulai MP Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub.
Experts had said that Rashid was well within his rights to reject the motions based on technicalities.
Ngeh now urged Zahid to file a motion under Standing Order 43 to reverse Rashid’s decision.
Standing Order 43 stipulates that: “Tuan Yang di-Pertua in the house or the chairman in committee shall be responsible for the observance of the rules of order in the house and committee respectively, and his 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. Such a motion shall not require more than two days’ notice.”
Ngeh said an election must be conducted now that there are two candidates for the speaker’s post – incumbent Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun and Azalina, as well as two candidates for the deputy speaker’s post – Pontian MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan and Teluk Intan MP Nga Kor Ming.
“If the speaker and the deputy speaker cannot understand this basic rule of democracy, they should resign immediately.
“The speaker and the deputy speaker positions are honourable positions highly regarded within the country and internationally.
“As such, the speaker and the deputy speaker must act honourably in their conduct. They must not hold on to their positions when they know their tenures are no longer tenable,” Ngeh said.
In addition, he said he will like to see all lawmakers acting honourably so that the nation will be well respected.
However, he said, the question that arises is – would former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin vote for Ahmad Maslan to take the deputy speaker role?
This is because Ahmad is part of the “court cluster” despite him facing trial over alleged money laundering involving RM2 million received from former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in 2013.
“The immediate former prime minister declared that he will never accept or support those MPs with criminal charges against them who are also known as the court cluster.
“Will he vote for Ahmad who is part of the court cluster for the post or will he be in agreement with the Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Rais Yatim that a deputy speaker candidate should not have any pending criminal charges against him?
“We will wait to see if he mean what he says.” – The Vibes, September 12, 2021
