He said the Dewan Rakyat secretary confirmed that the notice of his nomination was given on July 2.
“It has been confirmed by the secretary (of Dewan Rakyat) so the matter should be put to rest,” he said after the swearing in ceremony of the 222 MPs today.
He was commenting on a walkout of opposition MPs from the Dewan Rakyat this morning.
Ariff said although the media had written extensively about the appointment letter, the speaker’s post was determined by an election among the MPs which was carried out this morning.
Earlier today, Barisan Nasional and PAS staged a walkout just after 10 minutes of proceedings.
The MPs said the notice for a speaker should be carried out by July 2, which was 14 days before the Dewan Rakyat convenes today.
The requirement is stated in Standing Order 4 (1).
Asked if any action would be taken on the opposition for walking out today, Ariff said this was the new Malaysia.
“We believe in democratic rights and freedom of expression and speech.”
Ariff also said he had resigned from his political position as Amanah disciplinary committee chief because a speaker should not be attached to any political parties.
He would also be meeting several opposition MPs soon.
Asked if the Public Accounts Committee chief would be from the opposition, he said the matter was being discussed.
“(I) cannot simply decide on my own. We will discuss and see how to improve parliamentary procedure and performance.
“The goal is to have a better Parliament.”
On reforms to be carried out in parliament, he said he would need some time.
“But certainly reform is on the agenda. I got to look at what has been reformed thus far.
“There’s been a lot so I need to look at it and see how we can improve further.”
When asked about the short-term measures to be carried out on parliamentary democracy, he said: “You saw it. We allow people to speak and say what they want. But this is the first day.”
The former Court of Appeal judge said he was hoping for greater advancement in parliamentary democracy as the Parliament was an important institution.
Ariff is Malaysia’s 9th Dewan Rakyat speaker.
He retired from the Malaysian judiciary in early 2015.