Harapan turns to ex-judge amid controversy over speaker candidacy

Pakatan Harapan is now eyeing former Court of Appeal Judge Mohamad Ariff Yusof as a potential candidate for Dewan Rakyat speaker.

This is after other proposed candidates, particularly PKR's Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul, had caused controversy.

A government source told Malaysiakini that Ariff was now the likely choice to take up the position.

“Ariff is the frontrunner as the new speaker of Dewan Rakyat and we expect to announce this very soon.

“He is an experienced Court of Appeal judge with impeccable impartiality, integrity and accountability," the source told Malaysiakini.

G25, a grouping of eminent ex-civil servants, have also lobbied for Ariff's appointment, citing his "impeccable track record".

Amanah had on April 18 announced Ariff as the party's disciplinary committee chief.

He had contested the Kota Damansara state seat under a PAS ticket in 2004.

As of yesterday, PKR sources said, Harapan would likely settle with Johari for the position of Dewan Rakyat speaker.

But controversy broke out with legal experts pointing out that Johari (photo) is also the Gurun state assemblyperson in Kedah.

Johari is required by the constitution to relinquish his position as a state assemblyperson, but not as an MP, if he were to become the Dewan Rakyat speaker.

This would put the Kedah government in a precarious situation as Harapan now controls only 18 seats in the state assembly while PAS and Umno also control 18.

Previously, it was also reported that Iskandar Puteri MP Lim Kit Siang was a possible candidate for Dewan Rakyat speaker.

The DAP advisor refused to comment when asked about it.

Harapan sources told Malaysiakini that some leaders were not keen on having to deal with another round of racially-charged attacks from the opposition as it did with the appointment of Tommy Thomas as the attorney-general.

Apart from G25, members of the civil society including former Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan had also advocated the appointment of a former judge as Dewan Rakyat speaker.

However, Harapan is also in a difficult situation due to its manifesto promising that the Dewan Rakyat speaker will come from a member of the House.

According to the Parliamentary standing order, the nominees for Dewan Rakyat speaker must be submitted to Parliament within 14 days from the sitting, a deadline which Harapan has missed.

The government source said Harapan is also still deliberating on the candidates for the two deputy speakers.

Parliament will convene on July 16. - Mkini