Azhar says new PM to decide on his job as speaker

 

Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun has left any decision on his position in the hands of newly-minted Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Malay-daily Utusan Malaysia quoted Azhar as saying he will resume his duties as speaker at the next Dewan Rakyat sitting on Sept 6, unless decided otherwise.

"I became speaker by virtue of the majority of the Dewan Rakyat.

"It is up to the prime minister leading the current majority in the House to decide (on the speaker)," he was quoted as saying.

"I have throughout this time carried out all my duties according to the Standing Orders and the Federal Constitution.

"I deny all allegations that I have acted unfairly towards any parties. In fact, I feel that justice must also be given to me as the speaker," he said.

Azhar, a former Election Commission (EC) chairperson, was appointed as Dewan Rakyat speaker in July last year by former premier Muhyiddin Yassin, to replace Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof who served during the time of Pakatan Harapan's administration.

The upcoming Dewan Rakyat session will also see a vacancy for one of two deputy speaker positions after the recent resignation of Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said who cited a need for parliamentary reforms.

Since then, Azalina also proposed that the government table a motion for the vacant deputy speaker seat to be filled by an opposition MP.

Batu Pahat MP Mohd Rashid Hasnon holds the other Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker position.

Rashid, who defected to Bersatu, was first appointed to the position by the then Harapan federal government while he was still a PKR member. - Mkini