According to Berita Harian, Kiandee said he understood the demands of the job, having served in the post from 2008 to 2018, and that there was a need for a third deputy speaker.
“I think the proposal made two years ago for another Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker post to be created needs to be revived by the government.
“I had been there (as a deputy speaker). It’s true that having two deputy speakers is insufficient.
“The appointment of a third deputy speaker is important, and the MP must come from the opposition bloc,” he said in debating the Supply Bill 2023.
Currently, Alice Lau (PH-Lanang) and Ramli Nor (BN-Cameron Highlands) serve as Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul’s deputies.
Kiandee said having a deputy speaker from the opposition bloc would ensure greater harmony in the House, adding that any MP helming the post should act fairly towards all MPs.
In response, Johari nodded his head and said, “God-willing”.
In September 2021, then law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the Ismail Sabri Yaakob-led administration would propose amendments to the Federal Constitution to allow for the appointment of a third deputy speaker.
However, Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin said the coalition would not support the constitutional amendment as the two deputy speakers were sufficient.
Muhyiddin added that there was a provision in the constitution that gave the Speaker the authority to allow any MP to chair proceedings in the absence of the Speaker or deputy speaker.
Come join opposition, Kiandee tells ‘upset’ GPS MPs
Kiandee also claimed there were cracks in the unity government bloc after DAP’s Chong Chieng Jen (PH-Stampin) drew criticism from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) MPs for accusing GPS of being “opportunistic” in joining the government.
He said Chong’s comments had prompted five GPS MPs to speak out against the Sarawak DAP chief in their respective speeches on Budget 2023.
He also said GPS MPs who were uneasy or upset with being in the government bloc could cross the aisle and join the opposition, saying they shared the same dreams as them.
“There’s no heartache and there’s no need to take swipes at each other over here (in the opposition bloc).”
Last week, while debating the budget, Chong appeared to take shots at GPS for supposedly being opportunistic when deciding to support Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister.
Rodiyah Sapiee (GPS-Batang Sadong) called on Chong to apologise for his remarks and for claiming that the coalition had failed to fight for Sarawak’s rights.