Azalina back in Parliament seat, but only as caretaker deputy speaker

KUALA LUMPUR – Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said has been appointed caretaker deputy Dewan Rakyat speaker on an interim basis.

She took the House by surprise this afternoon when she moved to the speaker’s chair to oversee proceedings.

Azalina told the lower House that she has been asked by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun to assist him in temporarily conducting the proceedings.

She said the appointment was made under Standing Order 7(3) of the Dewan Rakyat that states the speaker may at any time during a sitting ask a member of Parliament to take the chair temporarily without formal communication with the lower House.

She resigned as deputy speaker on August 23, citing hope for a parliamentary reset, with no new appointments made as a replacement.

Yesterday, Law Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said there would be no appointments to fill the vacancy in the current sitting, and that this would instead be done in the next sitting, scheduled for October 25. 

He had said that this is to allow the government to make an amendment to Article 57(1)(b) of the federal constitution to appoint three deputy speakers instead of two.

Presently, the lower House only has one deputy speaker – Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon (Batu Pahat-Bersatu). 

A source told The Vibes today that Azalina’s appointment is only on a caretaker basis, and that the position may be rotated with other members of the House. 

“The speaker might do it based on rotation. Next week, Azhar might call in Nga Kor Ming (Teluk Intan-PH), and then another person, until they have elected a new deputy speaker.

“This is also not something new. The Dewan Negara has used this clause before to appoint a temporary deputy speaker in the past.”

The source added that Azalina was only recently sought by the speaker to take up the post. 

Earlier, Hassan Abdul Karim (Pasir Gudang-PH) had said while he has no issue with Azalina’s appointment, the manner in which it was done has to be questioned. 

“We are debating the royal address. There is no motion from the speaker on this simple matter. But I have to ask whether the parliamentary procedure was followed.” 

Sim Tze Tzin (Bayan Baru-PH) said Azalina’s temporary appointment raises questions on the government’s decision to postpone the election of a new deputy speaker in the first place. – The Vibes, September 15, 2021