FORMER Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the Perikatan Nasional coalition would not support any move to create a third Deputy Speaker’s post at the Dewan Rakyat.
“Article 57 (1) (b) has already put in place provision for two Deputy Speakers to be appointed to help the Speaker of the house.
“Besides, Article 57 (3) also empowers the Speaker to appoint any members of the Dewan Rakyat to chair a sitting during the absence of his deputies and himself,” he said in a statement.
While serving as one of the Deputy Speakers, UMNO MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said had urged the Government to amend the Federal Constitution to allow a third position to be created and made exclusive to members of the Opposition bench.
The Pengerang lawmaker added that the move was needed to reform the parliamentary system, on top of the details agreed upon by both the Government and Pakatan Harapan under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed after Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob ascended the premiership.
It is note that while Barisan Nasional (BN) is currently operating under the Perikatan coalition led by Muhyiddin, it has decided not to contest the next general election under Perikatan’s banner.
Touching on the matter, Muhyiddin said that the Government should only stick the reforms signed under the MoU and Perikatan found no compelling reason to support the current move.
“As it is not something agreed upon in the MoU, it’s highly inappropriate to force anyone to support it,” the Pagoh MP remarked. – Oct 7, 2021.
