PARLIAMENT | Due to a procedural oversight committed by BN, the coalition was unable to appoint its candidate, Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said, to the Dewan Rakyat's Selection Committee.

A motion today had proposed Bagan Datuk MP Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as BN's representative in the Selection Committee by virtue of his position as opposition leader.

In a letter to Dewan Rakyat's speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof yesterday, Zahid had rejected the appointment and instead proposed that Azalina take his place on the committee.

However, BN failed to file a notice and a motion for that purpose, and therefore the proposal in the letter remains only as that.

"I have scrutinised this matter and it involves a proposal to name Pengerang as a member of the Selection Committee for the 14th Dewan Rakyat.

"However, no notice or motion was presented by Bagan Datuk for that purpose.

"Therefore, it does not comply with Standing Order 26, 27 and 30(3) which requires a motion and notice to be presented. Therefore I cannot allow this to be raised in the Dewan Rakyat," said Ariff.

As such, Zahid ended up being appointed to the Selection Committee despite his rejection. 

The complete members of the Selection Committee, as listed in the motion, are as follows:

  • Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof (Dewan Rakyat speaker)
  • Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (Pandan MP)
  • Muhyiddin Yassin (Pagoh MP)
  • Mohamad Sabu (Kota Raja MP)
  • Ignatius Darell Leiking (Penampang MP)
  • Tan Kok Wai (Cheras MP)
  • Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (Bagan Datuk MP)

The motion was approved by the Dewan Rakyat.

The Selection Committee is responsible for choosing members of other committees in the Dewan Rakyat.