DEWAN Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun has compromised his impartiality in supporting the Perikatan Nasional government, said Lim Guan Eng.

The DAP secretary-general accused Azhar of protecting the government of the day in disallowing a motion of no confidence against current Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
 
“He has clearly compromised his independence, impartiality and neutrality in what is clearly observable as a political act to save the federal government under the pretext of giving priority to government business,” Lim said in a statement today.

Azhar had recently written a lengthy reply to Umno MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah’s query on the  status of a no confidence motion filed against the prime minister earlier this year.

In the reply, the speaker said his decisions on motions brought before him were made in accordance to parliamentary Standing Orders.

Lim today also slammed Azhar for limiting the number of media personnel allowed in parliament for the next session starting on November 2.

“Restricting open and free coverage of parliament, especially the right to freedom of information, jeopardises an essential element in the promotion of democracy.

“Covid-19 should not result in throttling the freedom of the press as it is independent reporting that will show the (government’s) failures and weaknesses, such as in managing the Covid-19 health crisis,” he said.

The Bagan MP urged Azhar to be impartial and fair to all parties, including the opposition.

“DAP urges the speaker not to compromise parliament’s special role and status but deliver his previous recorded promises on upholding the supremacy, sovereignty and sanctity of Parliament,” Lim said.

An old video of Azhar in which he demonstrates support for a motion of no confidence has been making the rounds on social media, leading to comments panning Azhar for inconsistency. – October 19, 2020.