PAKATAN Harapan was caught off-guard and did not have time to submit its choice for Dewan Rakyat speaker, said Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof.

He said Perikatan Nasional submitted a motion to change the speaker and nominate a candidate well within the 14-day notice period before the Dewan Rakyat convened on July 13.

“The objection was that the other side should have been given a chance to propose another name within the same 14 days. 

“It couldn’t have submitted another name within 14 days as that wouldn’t have been possible.

“The opposition only came to know about it less than 14 days (before the sitting), but the motion to remove me was made within time,” the former speaker told The Malaysian Insight.

According to the Dewan Rakyat’s standing order No. 4, any party proposing a new speaker needs to file a written proposal at least 14 days before the next sitting.

Ariff also said he would not challenge his removal in court as he had only taken up the job as a form of service.

“I stand by my principles. I go by the book. I can say this because I am doing this as a national service. I am not beholden to anyone.

“So, I have no problems if you feel you don’t need me to carry on the national service that I volunteered for. I am okay with that.

“As a matter of principle, I should say this, I have got no problems with that because this is not a position I lobbied for or must have.” 

Ariff on June 28 confirmed to the media that he had received a motion proposing his termination as speaker. He also received another motion to terminate his deputy, Nga Kor Ming.

PN proposed former Election Commission chairman Azhar Azizan Harun as the coalition’s choice.

In a razor-thin division vote, 111 MPs said aye and 109 in the opposition said nay to Ariff and Nga’s removal.

Opposition politicians slammed the move, saying Azhar was made speaker without a vote or nomination from them.

A commotion then broke out in the house, with the opposition booing and shouting “undi, undi, undi” at Azhar before Amanah’s Khalid Abdul Samad was booted out of the hall.

R.S.N. Rayer (Jelutong-PH) then questioned Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on why the opposition had not been allowed to submit its choice of speaker. – July 23, 2020.