A GROUP of opposition lawmakers today slammed the Perikatan Nasional government’s proposed plan to replace the Dewan Rakyat speaker and one of his deputy.

The lawmakers said speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof and deputy Nga Kor Ming have been professional in their duties, and were implementing key reforms to the Dewan Rakyat.

“Both of them have been serving professionally as the check and balance for this noble House and there is no basis to dismiss them both,” they said in a statement today.

The statement was signed by PKR’s Fahmi Fadzil (Lembah Pantai), Amanah’s Hasanuddin Mohd Yunos (Hulu Langat), DAP’s Alice Lau (Lanang), Bersatu’s Maszlee Malik (Simpang Renggam), Warisan’s Liew Vui Keong (Batu Sapi), Upko’s Wilfred Madius Tangau (Tuaran) and Parti Sarawak Bersatu’s Baru Bian (Selangau).

They are objecting to the proposed removal of the speaker and his deputy as it is politically motivated.

“We, parliamentarians from the opposition block, disagree and do not support the change of the Dewan Rakyat speaker and his deputy as it is a neutral position and has nothing to do with any political manoeuvre.”

They said Ariff has been instrumental in major changes in Dewan Rakyat, including in forming six special committees to overlook various areas of reforms and forming an all-party parliamentary group to make the house more effective.

”The Parliament is an important institution as the pillar of democracy and brings the people’s voice. It cannot be made into a political playground for no reason,” the statement read.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had submitted a motion to replace Ariff and Nga on June 26.

Batu Pahat MP Mohd Rashid Hasnon, the other deputy speaker, is not affected.

Muhyiddin is expected to table the motion on the first day of the sitting on July 13.

Nga is a DAP lawmaker while Ariff is a retired judge. Ariff has also been lauded by both sides for making parliamentary reforms since coming to office in 2018.

PN’s choice of speaker is former Election Commission chairman Azhar Azizan Harun. – July 5, 2020.