Parliament secretary replaced after change in agenda for one-day sitting

Secretary to the Dewan Rakyat Riduan Rahmat has been replaced after less than three months in that position, after a notice confirming that the one-day parliamentary sitting was going to be limited to just the opening address by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

It is understood that Riduan – who was appointed to the position on February 22 just days before the “Sheraton Move” that led to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government – is being appointed to the post of Dewan Negara management secretary.

A statement by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof confirmed that Nizam Mydin Bacha Mydin who had previously served in the Cabinet, Constitution and Inter-Government Relations Division of the Prime Minister’s Department was appointed as the new Dewan Rakyat secretary effective yesterday (May 13).

A number of reasons for the change have been cited including a report by the Malay Mail Online quoting a source as saying that Riduan was being replaced for being secretive over the filing of no-confidence motions against Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal.

A reliable source told Malaysiakini that Riduan was only informed that he would be replaced as the Parliament secretary last night.

"Riduan was sacked and downgraded to Dewan Negara late night yesterday without any reason being given. 

"This is an immediate removal which is unprecedented in Parliament's history, claimed the source, who said that Riduan had acted professionally but was being made a scapegoat.

The source claimed that the replacement was related to the no-confidence motion which was mooted by the former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Malaysiakini has contacted Riduan and the Law Ministry for a response. 

Meanwhile, in his statement today, the speaker thanked Riduan for his services.

“I would like to record the highest appreciation and thanks to Riduan on all of his services and contributions as the 13th secretary to the Dewan Rakyat of the Malaysian Parliament since February 22,” the statement read.

Yesterday, Malaysiakini reported that in an earlier version of the notice for the one-day sitting addressed to MPs by Riduan, the agenda indicated that there would be room for discussion of bills and other matters of government after the Agong’s speech and departure.

The earlier version also indicated that the Dewan Negara would also convene, albeit only for the Agong's address.

But the change to the agenda indicating that the sitting would adjourn immediately after the Agong's address means there is no room for any motions either by Muhyiddin's government or the opposition.

Muhyiddin's government had originally been planning to table four motions and two bills during the one-day sitting.

Harapan has persistently called for the sitting to be extended with former minister Liew Vui Keong submitting an emergency motion to extend it to eight days, but PN has contended that prolonging the gathering of MPs could pose a Covid-19 contagion risk.

Mahathir had successfully filed the no-confidence motion against Muhyiddin which was accepted by Ariff but de facto Parliament and law minister Takiyuddin Hassan had stressed that only government matters would be prioritised during the one-day sitting. - Mkini