LAWMAKERS were caught by surprise today when former Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Azalina Othman Said sat in the Speaker’s chair during the afternoon session.

Azalina, who resigned as Deputy Speaker on August 23, reassured the lawmakers that it was just a temporary move.

“This is in accordance with Standing Order 7 (3) and it’s just temporary. Maybe, it will be one of you next week,” said the Pengerang MP.

The issue was raised by Hasan Karim (Pasir Gudang-PH) and Sim Tze Tzin (Bayan Baru-PH).

“Some of us were disappointed when you resigned last month. But the government shouldn’t have postponed the election of a new deputy speaker yesterday,” said the PKR lawmaker.

“The Speaker’s role is very busy and should have another deputy,” said Sim.

Yesterday, the government decided to postpone the election of a new deputy speaker so that it can amend the Federal Constitution to increase the number of deputies.

“We are suspending the election so that we can amend Article 57 (1)(b) of the Federal Constitution to increase the number of deputies to three.

“Although the Federal Constitution states that deputy speakers will be elected by MPs, we hope that one of the deputies will be from the opposition.

“The government hopes to table the amendment in this session and complete it in October,” said de facto law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

Standing Orders 7 (3) states that the Speaker can ask any MP to take over the Chair temporarily, without informing the House.

Dewan Rakyat is currently presided over by speaker Azhar Azizan Harun and deputy speaker Rashid Hasnon (Batu Pahat-PN). – September 15, 2021.