Dewan Rakyat speaker - Rais says he'll do it as national service

Former socio-cultural advisor to the government Rais Yatim said he is prepared to take on the responsibility of becoming the Dewan Rakyat speaker if given the opportunity to do so.

To him, parliamentary sessions in the “New Malaysia” will be more challenging because its members will be “sharper and more outspoken”.

“For now I am open to accepting any eventuality. If it comes to that, it would be a national service because being a speaker today is no easy thing.

“This is because the people (the MPs) are all outspoken, very knowledgeable and sharp-tongued,” he said in an interview with Malaysiakini yesterday.

Nevertheless, he said he has yet to receive any letter from the government on the matter.

He said this when asked to comment on speculation that he would be appointed as the Dewan Rakyat speaker with Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh as his deputy

However, Yeoh had since been appointed as deputy minister for women, family, and community development.

The first session of the 14th Dewan Rakyat is slated to begin on July 16.

Rais, who is known for his passion for Bahasa Malaysia, said he hopes that parliamentarians would mind their language and their behaviour as they were being judged by the rakyat.

“It is our hope that the 14th Dewan Rakyat will be courteous and cultured because otherwise, we will not be well-received by society.

“If we continue to use foul language, we will be given a very low score. This is challenging,” he said.

Obtained PhD

For the record, Rais had previously served in Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s first cabinet before joining Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah faction in the latter’s bid for Umno presidency in the 1980’s.

After Tengku Razaleigh was defeated, he founded the Parti Melayu Semangat 46 and appointed Rais as deputy president.

When the new party failed to make inroads in national politics, Rais decided to further his studies at the King’s College in London and obtained his PhD in 1995.

He was again appointed a minister during Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s premiership.

His last government posting was as socio-cultural advisor to the government in Najib Abdul Razak’s cabinet though he later became critical of Najib.

Rais, who joined Bersatu early last month, also served as the menteri besar of Negeri Sembilan from 1978 to 1982. - Mkini