The motion on the deferment was tabled by law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who proposed that the motion for the election of a deputy speaker, which was the first item in today’s Order Paper, be postponed to the next meeting of the Dewan Rakyat.

The motion was seconded by deputy law minister Mas Ermieyati Samsudin and received unanimous support from the MPs present.

On Aug 23 last year, Azalina resigned from the post, but still served as interim deputy speaker for the duration of the meeting then.

The motion to postpone the election of the deputy speaker was brought up for the first time by Wan Junaidi on Sept 14 last year, and again on Oct 25, followed by a similar motion by Mas Ermieyati at the March 1 meeting this year.

Wan Junaidi said the motion had to be postponed to allow for the amendment to Article 57 (1) (b) of the Federal Constitution to increase the number of deputy speakers in the Dewan Rakyat from two to three.

Article 57 (1) (b) of the Federal Constitution states that the Dewan Rakyat shall, from time to time, elect two deputy speakers from among the MPs.