Motion on deputy speaker’s vacant post suspended

Motion on deputy speaker’s vacant post suspended

Law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar says the suspension is to enable a new motion to be tabled next month to increase the number of deputy speakers.

The proposal to increase the number of deputy speakers in the Dewan Rakyat is to ensure that at least one of them would be from the opposition. (Bernama pic)
KUALA LUMPUR:
The motion to fill the post of deputy speaker in the Dewan Rakyat has been suspended until at least next month.

Law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the motion was suspended to consider a proposal to increase the number of deputy speakers.

“We have decided to suspend (the motion) because we want to make amendments for us to increase the number of deputy speakers, from the present two to three.

“One of the new deputy speakers will be from the opposition. Therefore, the motion to appoint a new deputy speaker has been suspended temporarily,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

According to Wan Junaidi, the matter has been discussed with the attorney-general on the tabling of a motion to increase the number of deputy speakers by next month.

Only two MPs had been in the running for the vacant deputy speaker post, namely Ahmad Maslan (BN-Pontian) and Nga Kor Ming (PH-Teluk Intan). The vote was supposed to take place today.

The deputy speaker’s seat became vacant after Azalina Othman Said resigned on Aug 18.

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