KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said’s appointment to temporarily chair the Dewan Rakyat this evening was called into question, after opposition MPs highlighted possible conflict of interest on her part.
This is following her appointment as special adviser to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on matters pertaining to law and human rights.
Taking up the issue in Parliament, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (Kulim Bandar Baru-PH) said her appointment means she now serves as part of the executive body.
He expressed concern that there could be occasions when her role would clash with her duties as caretaker deputy speaker.
“Hypothetically, if, during the sitting, there is an issue that involves the position of the prime minister on matters of law and human rights that requires your advice, there will certainly be awkwardness, if not conflict of interest.”
Azalina responded by saying her appointment was done in accordance with Standing Order 7(3), which allows the speaker, at any time during a sitting, to ask an MP to take the chair temporarily without formal communication to the House.
“If you have any issue with the invitation to me, you can take it up with Speaker (Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun). I’m just following the speaker’s order, no problem,” she said.
Wong Hon Wai (Bukit Bendera-PH) then urged Azalina to recuse herself from the seat, telling her to deal with the issue immediately and not wait for Azhar to make a ruling.
“There is a clear conflict in terms of your appointments in the executive branch and in Parliament.
“The speaker can appoint someone from among more than 100 MPs here who are ready to temporarily chair the session. I hope you can make an immediate ruling and not delay it,” he said.
To this, Azalina said she would only chair sessions from 2.30pm to 3.30pm, and again asked MPs to take it up with Azhar.
“I will accept any order given by the speaker. For now, I have accepted (to chair), and I want to carry out my duty as interim speaker for this one hour,” she said.
Azalina was first appointed caretaker deputy speaker during proceedings on September 15, and has chaired the meeting on several occasions since.
The Umno lawmaker had resigned from the post on August 23, citing hope for a parliamentary reset, with no new appointments made as her replacement.
On Saturday, Azalina had posted on Facebook an announcement on her appointment as a special adviser to Ismail Sabri, having received her appointment letter last Thursday.
Later in the proceeding, Azhar said there is no conflict of interest involving Azalina, as her role as advise to the prime minister is an executive appointment, but merely in her own personal capacity.
He added that even if any issue of conflict of interest arises while she chairs the House in the future, she can recuse herself during that period.
“If, while chairing, she is not required to make any ruling related to matters that she advises the prime minister on, then I think there is no conflict of interest. If a ruling needs to be made, I’m sure she will recuse herself.
“In fact, I will myself ask her to recuse herself. That’s my guarantee,” he said. – The Vibes, October 5, 2021
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