Former Sri Gading MP sworn in as Johor speaker

Former Sri Gading MP Mohamad Aziz, who is known for making controversial statements in Parliament, is now the speaker of Johor state assembly, despite his wife being a state assemblyperson.

Mohamad was sworn-in as speaker in the state assembly this morning, together with his wife Azizah Zakaria and other state lawmakers elected in the general election last month.

Mohamand (right) is not an elected representative in Johor. His wife Azizah, a first-term assemblyperson, won the Parit Raja state seat after the incumbent, Aziz Kaprawi, was fielded in Mohamad's Sri Gading parliamentary seat, which Aziz won.

The position of speaker is elected by the state legislative assembly, but with Mohamad being the only candidate nominated by Johor Menteri Besar Khaled Nordin, voting was not required.

The two-term MP is known as an outspoken politician who often led the charges against the opposition in Parliament.

Mohamad courted controversy in June last year, when he asked during a parliamentary debate whether Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan should be hung for treason.

After raising an uproar from the opposition and civil society, heretracted his remark and no action was taken against him.

[More to follow]