No need for third deputy speaker - Muhyiddin
Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin believes that it is unnecessary to create another deputy speaker position in the Dewan Rakyat.
As such, the coalition does not support any suggestion to amend the Federal Constitution to create the slot.
According to the former premier, the PN supreme council opined that the...
Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin believes that it is unnecessary to create another deputy speaker position in the Dewan Rakyat.
As such, the coalition does not support any suggestion to amend the Federal Constitution to create the slot.
According to the former premier, the PN supreme council opined that the two deputy speaker positions already provided by Article 57(1)(b) of the Federal Constitution are sufficient to ensure the Dewan Rakyat meetings run smoothly.
Furthermore, he said, Article 57(3) of the Constitution allows any MP to chair the meeting when the speaker and deputy speakers aren’t present.
“Hence, there is no need for the Federal Constitution to be amended to add another position of Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker at the moment.
“The suggestion to amend the Constitution needs the support of at least two-thirds of MPs in Dewan Rakyat,” Muhyiddin said in a statement today.
Not part of MOU
He added that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Transformation and Political Stability signed between Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Pakatan Harapan is limited to the agreed matters.
Muhyiddin stressed the constitutional amendment for the third speaker position was not one of them.
“The constitutional amendment to add the deputy speaker position was not in the MOU. Hence, it is unreasonable for any party to demand its implementation.
“As such, PN agreed to not support any suggestion to undertake the constitutional amendment for this purpose,” he added.
Previously, several Harapan and BN sources said the government is studying to create a third speaker position, purportedly reserved for the opposition.
De facto Law Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar also welcomed the suggestion but said it has yet to be formally discussed, adding that the matter had only been brought up by politicians.
Mohd Rashid Hasnon (Bersatu-Batu Pahat) holds the position of deputy speaker, while the other spot is vacant following Azalina Othman Said's (BN-Pengerang) resignation in August.
Nonetheless, Azalina has been appointed by speaker Azhar Azizan Harun to chair Dewan Rakyat sittings temporarily, after the selection for the second deputy speaker was postponed until the upcoming session.
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