The first sitting of 11th Parliament in May is likely to see Dr Mohamed Zahir Ismail reappointed the Dewan Rakyat speaker, a minister said today.

According to a Bernama report, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz said Zahir is the only candidate for the post so far as no other candidates have been proposed.

"Names for the speaker and deputy speakers must be submitted 14 days before the sitting. The Barisan Nasional and the opposition can propose their choice within the stipulated period," said the minister who is in charge of parliamentary affairs.

Zahir, 80, was first appointed the Dewan Rakyat speaker on March 16, 1982, when he succeeded the late Dr Syed Nasir Ismail.

The appointment of the House Speaker and two deputy speakers is scheduled to take place on March 17 when Parliament reconvenes for the first time after the general election.

Negative consequences

Meanwhile, Nazri rejected the proposal of DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang for parliament proceedings to be telecast live.

"I will recommend to the prime minister not to agree to this proposals. There are more negative consequences rather than positive outcomes," Bernama quoted him as saying.

Nazri said there was a tendency for certain quarters to play to the gallery and there was also a possibility that the Dewan Rakyat may be shown in a negative light should there be altercations.

"There are scenes of MPs fighting in some countries. We don't want the people to watch such things here...furthermore there are times when the house may look deserted because the quorum is only 26," he said.

The minister said MPs could not be expected to sit through the entire daily proceedings in Parliament as it could take up to six hours. He said the parliamentarians would also require time out for refreshments and to carry out other responsibilities.