Speaker, deputy served with legal challenge over their appointments

A legal challenge against the appointment of Azhar Azizan Harun and Azalina Othman Said as the Dewan Rakyat speaker and deputy speaker respectively has been served on the duo and two others.

Acting for Dr Mahathir Mohamad and four others who filed the legal action to challenge the validity of the appointments, law firm Law Practice of Rafique confirmed that sealed copies of the originating summons have been served on Azhar, Azalina and two other defendants.

Besides Azhar and Pengerang MP Azalina, the two other defendants are Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Mohd Rashid Hasnon and Dewan Rakyat secretary Nizam Mydin Bacha Mydin.

Aside from Langkawi MP Mahathir, the four other plaintiffs are Jerlun MP Mukhriz Mahathir, Simpang Renggam MP Maszlee Malik, Kubang Pasu MP Amiruddin Hamzah and Sri Gading MP Shahruddin Md Salleh.

In today’s statement, the law firm confirmed that sealed copies of the legal action’s cause papers have been extracted from the Kuala Lumpur High Court Registry and served on all four defendants this afternoon.

“At 2.55pm this afternoon, the Originating Summons dated July 23, 2020, as well as the Supporting Affidavit of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad affirmed on July 23, 2020, have been served on the four defendants at the Office of the Dewan Rakyat Secretariat, Jalan Parlimen, Kuala Lumpur,” the firm stated.

It added that the legal action will come up for e-review case management before Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid at 9am on Aug 11.

E-review is a form of online teleconferencing whereby parties in a legal matter can conduct case management remotely without needing to physically come to court.

The five plaintiffs, who are also disputed members of Bersatu, are seeking a declaration that the appointments of Azhar and Azalina are invalid and contravene the Federal Constitution and the Dewan Rakyat standing orders.

They also seek a declaration that following the vacating of the speaker’s post previously held by Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof, all MPs must be given an opportunity to find a candidate for the position.

The five plaintiffs also want a declaration that the posts of the Dewan Rakyat speaker and deputy speaker have remained vacant since July 13. - Mkini