Ariff pledges to be independent in discharging duty

Newly minted Dewan Rakyat Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof, whose appointment has courted controversy, today pledged to carry out his duty independently.

"I will carry out my duty wholeheartedly and be free from the external influence," Ariff said during his oath-taking ceremony.

"I will uplift the prestige and dignity of the House so that parliamentary democracy will be more effective," said the former Court of Appeals judge.

Speaking to reporters later, he said he would need time to plan how to reform Parliament further.

"This is my first day essentially, but certainly reform is on the agenda. I've got to look at what has been reformed thus far.

"There has been a lot so I need to look at it and see how we can improve further," he said after Parliament was adjourned for today.

While many people appeared to be focused on reforms to the judiciary, he said parliament reforms were also very important.

"After all, this is the system we have, parliamentary democracy. So you've got to build on that principle," he said.

Ariff also responded to the walk-out by Umno and PAS lawmakers during his swearing-in ceremony.

"I thought it was resolved. This is the new Malaysia. We believe in democratic rights and freedom of expression and speech," he said when asked if he would take action against them.

Those who walked out said they were not protesting Ariff's appointment as speaker but merely the procedure under which it was done which they claimed did not abide by Section 4(1) of the Standing Orders.

Section 4(1) states that the Dewan Rakyat secretary must be notified of the candidate for speaker 14 days before the House convenes.

Ariff said the Dewan Rakyat secretary had already confirmed that his name was submitted on July 2.

When questioned on when he received his candidacy notice, Ariff said, "Well, before the 14-day limit".

"I mean, that is over. Go by the secretary's statement," he said, adding that the opposition was arranging a meet with him. - Mkini