I was 'collateral damage' following Sheraton Move, says ex-speaker

Former Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun said he became “collateral damage” following the Sheraton Move in 2020.

Speaking in a talk show titled “Bersama Wan Saiful” yesterday, which was hosted by Bersatu MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan, he recalled the first day he was appointed as speaker in July 2020, when he had to eject then-Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad.

Azhar said he was an “easy target” as many from the opposition were still miffed over the change of government.

“Personally, I feel the opposition (Pakatan Harapan) had no issues with me becoming the speaker. I have friends from both sides of the aisle.

“Besides, it was they (Harapan) who appointed me as Election Commission chairperson earlier.

“But what happened, I think, they were angry over what transpired during the Sheraton Move and I was the ‘collateral damage’ to that anger,” he said.

‘I was called lackey’

In February 2020, Harapan collapsed after Bersatu left the coalition and formed a new pact called Perikatan Nasional with PAS, with BN cooperating with them.

Ten PKR MPs also jumped ship, including former ministers Azmin Ali, Zuraida Kamaruddin and Saifuddin Abdullah.

Soon after, Azhar, who was then serving as EC chairperson was appointed Dewan Rakyat speaker after his predecessor Mohamed Ariff Md Yusof was voted out.

On that note, Azhar denied any assumption that he was also involved in the Sheraton Move.

“How was I to be involved? I was serving as the EC chair back then,” he said, adding it was a political move and he would let history judge whether it was right or wrong.

Back to his first day as the speaker, Azhar said many MPs were misbehaving back then, adding easily 30 to 40 percent of them were not following house protocols.

“As a human being, I understand their anger but the proceedings have to go on.

“And I had no choice but to eject Shah Alam MP (Khalid) that day because he went too far.

“One person even called me barua (lackey) but the next morning, the MP met me and I had no issues… I kept nothing in my heart and told the MP, let’s start afresh.

“I believe I did my best,” Azhar added. - Mkini