DAP announced it that cautiously welcomes the proposal to nominate Umno MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said as the new Dewan Rakyat Speaker to replace incumbent, Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun.
“We also support Azalina’s idea of having an Opposition MP appointed as a Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker. It respects the fundamental principle that the august house belongs to all MPs, Government and Opposition alike.
“With that, I would like to propose former deputy speaker and Teluk Intan MP Nga Kor Ming for the job. As the Yang di-Pertuan Agong himself had decreed- ‘winners should not take all and losers do not lose all’”, its secretary general Lim Guan Eng said in a statement.
Two days ago, Malaysiakini reported Umno sources as saying that the party is planning to nominate Azalina to become Dewan Rakyat Speaker.
Azalina has received praise from both sides of the political aisle for pushing for reforms and conducting herself professionally during her stint as a deputy speaker.
The former minister even announced that she plans to table a Private Member Bill for recall election, which would allow a by-election to be called when a lawmaker shifts allegiance to another party.
Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh had spoken highly of Azalina, adding the latter had been engaging and open to views from Pakatan Harapan MPs as deputy speaker.
Open to Azalina’s views
On that note, Lim said that his party would like to engage Azalina further on her proposed reforms to the Malaysian parliamentary democracy system and how she would manage Dewan Rakyat differently from Azhar.
He added that the Umno leader should lay out clear plans on how to ensure the Parliament do not become mere rubber stamp to the whims and fancies of the Executive branch.
“Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo has met Azalina recently to discuss about the reforms she mentioned, including on the recall election as part of the anti-hopping law package.
“The people want the Parliament to be a key institution to our democracy that makes a positive difference in the lives of Malaysians.
“And DAP is willing to discuss further with her if she is serious about putting her name forward to replace Azhar to restore Parliament’s image and credibility, that has been damaged by Azhar’s subservience to the Executive,” the former finance minister concluded. – Sept 6, 2021
