The DAP today called for the resignation of Parliament speaker Mohamed Zahir Ismail over his contradicting statement on the appointment of Abdul Gani Patail as the new attorney-general.

Party chairperson Lim Kit Siang also questioned if Mohamed Zahir's statement on the issue in rejecting a call for an urgent motion in the House to debate the appointment was based on his "own assumptions and beliefs".

"If ( de facto law minister) Rais (Yatim) was right in saying yesterday that the speaker was not privy to the constitutional procedures, then Mohamed Zahir was simply talking rubbish," said the veteran politician in a statement.

"Then the time has come for the five-term speaker to step down from his office."

Lim was referring to a malaysiakini report yesterday in which Rais disputed the speaker's statement on Monday that the late Yang di-Pertuan Agong had yet to approve the appointment of Abdul Gani.

Mohamed Zahir had said so when informing DAP MP Teresa Kok in a letter that he rejected her call for the urgent debate in Dewan Rakyat on the matter as royal approval of Abdul Gani's appointment was still pending. The speaker also added that Abdul Gani would officially assume the post from Jan 1 next year.

To this, Rais yesterday commented: "There is no confusion (over the appointment). The appointment of Abdul Gani as announced before will go on. I do not think that the speaker was privy to the procedures."

Lim also said Rais' statement was "astounding and far-reaching" as it not only indicated that the speaker was not privy to the procedures of the appointment but also for revealing that Mohamed Zahir was wrong in rejecting Kok's urgent motion.

"The question is whether the speaker rejected the motion based on information and advice from the Prime Minister's Department or did he simply summon them from thin air based on his own assumptions and beliefs," asked Lim.

Allow motion

He added that based on Rais' statement, the speaker's rejection was wrong and should be reviewed.

"It must be overturned in a substantive motion and Kok allowed to move her motion again."

Abdul Gani's appointment to the top post to replace the resigning Ainum Mohamad Saaid has come under much criticism following questions of non-adherence to constitutional procedures.

The appointment was announced by Rais on Nov 19, one day after Ainum had submitted her resignation letter, which was to take affect from Dec 31. Rais had also announced that Abdul Gani will assume the duties of Ainum as soon as she goes on leave prior to her retirement.

The swift appointment process raised doubts if the constitutional aspects of the appointment were followed, especially when the late Agong was seriously ill at that time after undergoing cardiac surgery.

According to the constitution, "The Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall, on the advice of the prime minister, appoint a person who is qualified to be a judge for the Federal Court to be the attorney-general for the federation."

Lim also called upon the Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to appear in Parliament on Monday to present a ministerial statement to "end the constitutional muddle" on the appointment.

"The prime minister must address issues such as whether he would inform the cabinet on his choice of the new attorney-general and when he proposes to advise the Agong on the appointment," said Lim.