PRIME Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s bid to remove Dewan Rakyat Speaker Mohamad Ariff Mohd Yusof and his deputy, Nga Kor Ming, will not be easy as it is a three-stage process that has to be voted on at every turn.

Nga said this means Muhyiddin does not necessarily have a clear shot at passing the motion through the Dewan Rakyat as anything could happen.

Another factor that could derail Muhyiddin’s plan is disunity in his Perikatan Nasional ruling coalition, he said.

The first stage of removing a speaker and deputy speaker is tabling a motion to that effect.

This is followed by a motion to suspend the Dewan Rakyat’s standing orders and finally, a motion to elect a new speaker and deputy speaker.

If Muhyiddin fails to get a majority through all three stages, it will be a slap to his face, said Nga.

“The PN government is already unstable. It has 113 votes and the opposition has 109 votes,” said Nga, who is also Teluk Intan MP.

“If the speaker’s motion is not passed, the biggest loser is Muhyiddin, as he would have exposed his shortcomings. PN is disunited and does not have the people’s mandate.”

The Malaysian Insight previously reported on the move to replace Ariff and Nga, both of whom were appointed by Pakatan Harapan soon after the 14th general in 2018.

PN has nominated former Election Commission chairman Azhar Azizan Harun to replace Ariff and Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said of Umno to replace Nga.

In late February, PH was ousted when Muhyiddin and Azmin Ali led MPs loyal to both to join then opposition Barisan Nasional, PAS and Gabungan Parti Sarawak to form the PN government.

Nga said it’s unprecedented to replace Dewan Rakyat speakers in the middle of their term.

The vacancy in the post is usually due to three circumstances: the dissolution of Parliament, death or resignation.

Nga said PH did not try to remove Dewan Negara president Vigneswaran Sanasee even though he was appointed by the former BN government.

The last Dewan Rakyat speaker to have vacated the position was Syed Nasir Ismail, who died of a heart attack.

Syed Nasir collapsed while presiding over a parliamentary session in 1982 and was rushed to hospital. He died an hour later.

Nga said Muhyiddin had not given any reason why he and Arif should be replaced.

“There is no reason other than politics. You have to replace someone. If the boss fires you, he must have a reason. Because of this (reason), you are fired.

“We are not office boys, no speaker has been expelled in the history of Parliament.” – July 8, 2020.