Nga : I will not stay a minute longer if voted out as deputy speaker

Nga Kor Ming has vowed not to stay on a minute longer if he is removed as the Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker by vote via a motion pushed by the Perikatan Nasional government at the upcoming Parliament sitting on July 13.

In an interview with Chinese media earlier today (above), Nga said this was the first time a prime minister has sought to remove the speaker and deputy speaker during parliamentary mid-term.

"We will let the House decide (our fate), we will respect the decision of the Dewan Rakyat," said Nga, who is also DAP deputy secretary-general.

"If we are removed, then we will bow out in honour. Be a person with class, this is the expectation that we have of ourselves," he said.

"I sincerely hope the House will sit in an honourable manner next Monday," he added when asked if he expected a repeat of the Perak crisis when Pakatan Rakyat speaker V Sivakumar was forcibly removed from the speaker's chair when the state assembly commenced sitting in May 2009.

"Do not repeat the scene of the Perak Legislative Assembly when the then speaker was removed from his chair," said Nga.

"If this happens, then it is an insult to Parliament," he said according to an audio recording of the interview obtained by Malaysiakini.

"Rest assured, if the Dewan Rakyat passes the motion that we should go, I will not stay even a minute longer. We will not hang around there. Are you thinking that we are kids playing with sand? This will not happen.

"We hope the other side will not resort to violence too, it is simply not necessary. Do not make Malaysia a laughing stock," he said.

Nga with Ariff

All eyes are focused on the upcoming Dewan Rakyat sitting next Monday as the House will decide on the motion by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to replace speaker Mohamad Ariff Mohd Yusof and Nga.

Nga said he and Ariff did not step down up until now because the posts of speaker and deputy speaker are decided by the legislative branch and not the executive.

"We don't listen and take orders from the prime minister. A speaker has the responsibility to uphold the dignity of the legislative branch," he said.

"Don't misunderstand, a prime minister can only fire a cabinet minister, he has no power to fire the speaker," he added.

When asked if the motion to replace the speaker and deputy speaker would be passed by Dewan Rakyat, he said: "Let's wait and see. I cannot disclose too much for the time being".

Nga explained that the House will issue a 14-day notice to the MPs on the motion to replace the speaker to allow for MPs to nominate their designated candidate for the speaker's post.

He said none of the opposition MPs, however, have received the notice.

He said the prime minister also needed also to file another motion if he wanted the House to vote on the matter next Monday.

"This is another motion that will be needed to be passed by the MPs. It is possible that the motion will be rejected. If so, then Muhyiddin is the biggest loser," he said.

Prior to the election of the speaker and deputy speaker, he said the House will seek to pass the appointment of Anwar Ibrahim as the opposition leader.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will also need to report to the House on its progress on various matters, he said.  - Mkini