Former Sri Gading MP Mohamad Aziz, notorious for his controversial remarks in Parliament, is now the speaker of the Johor state assembly, despite his wife being a state assemblyperson.

However, his impartiality as speaker may be in question, as his wife is a rep in the Johor state assembly.

NONE Mohamad was sworn-in this morning as speaker in the state assembly, together with his wife Azizah Zakaria and other state lawmakers elected in the general election last month.

Mohamad ( left in photo ) is not an elected representative in Johor.

His wife Azizah, a first-term assemblyperson, won the Parit Raja state seat after the incumbent, Aziz Kaprawi, was fielded in Mohamad's Sri Gading parliamentary seat, which Aziz won.

State opposition leader Dr Boo Cheng Hau was quick to point out the potential conflict of interest between the couple when Azizah took her oath in front of her spouse.

Citing the state assembly standing orders, Boo requested Mohamad to excuse himself and let his deputy to take over the swearing-in ceremony.

“I told him that he should excuse himself to preserve the impartiality of the house whenever his wife is involved in any matter.

"Asking him to excuse himself from his wife's oath taking (before Mohamad) is just to test his impartiality," the Skudai assemblyperson from DAP told Malaysiakini after the ceremony.

Mohamad pledges to be professional

However, Boo said Mohamad rejected his call, arguing that it is just a swearing-in ceremony and that he would conduct his duties professionally.

"There is no law to stop him from being elected as the speaker. We (the opposition) will give him the chance to prove himself.

NONE "He used to be a naughty and playful MP in Parliament. Now he has to discipline himself to ensure the smooth and fair conduct of the state assembly," Boo ( right in photo ) added.

The speaker is chosen by the state legislative assembly, but Mohamad being the only candidate nominated by Menteri Besar, Khaled Nordin, the need for voting did not arise.

The two-term MP is known as an outspoken politician who often led the charge against the opposition in Parliament.

Mohamad courted controversy in June last year, when he asked during a parliamentary debate whether Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan should be hanged for treason.

After provoking an uproar from the opposition and civil society, he retracted his remark and no action was taken against him.

Later today, DAP Wanita issued a statement to expressed their disappointment over Mohamad's appointment as he is one of the politicians who had earned notoriety for their sexist and gender-offensive comments mainly in Parliament, where they claimed they have “immunity” for uttering such words.

According to the DAP wing, Mohamad Aziz - in 2000 - said in Parliament that it was “unusual for women’s issues to be touched (raised) by men” and then adding, “but women are supposed to be touched by men”.

NONE “None of these lawmakers have ever apologised ‘sincerely’, nor shown remorse for their sexist and derogatory remarks, raising the ire of women politicians and women NGOs - particularly those who have consistently urged voters to punish them by not voting for them,” read the statement.

DAP Wanita also reminded that former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz ( above ) had once warned sexist MPs that they could be dropped as election candidates.

“We sincerely and fervently hope that in his new position as Johor speaker, Mohamad will conduct himself professionally in the Johor state assembly and refrain from making any more sexist statements, as well as speak out against anyone who makes denigrating remarks against women,” they added.