AZALINA Othman Said has confirmed she has quit her role as deputy speaker of the Dewan Rakyat.

In a statement, the Pengerang MP said she hoped her resignation will provide an opportunity for the government and the opposition to “reset” the upcoming Dewan Rakyat sitting in September.

“This will allow the government and the opposition to have more room to reset our Dewan Rakyat, so that this august House can truly function as the forum for professional competition and collaboration between parties on policies and governance,” she said.

“I will support any reforms the government and the opposition may want to move in their collective wisdom,” she said.

A news report by the Star Online quoting sources said the deputy speaker had tendered her resignation today.

The resignation comes amid talk that she is in line for a post in Prime Minister’s Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s new cabinet.

She had served in former prime minister Najib Razak’s cabinet as minister in the prime minister’s department (law and Parliament) and prior to this as youth and sports minister for Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Ismail Sabri said today he was still considering appointments, with a decision due within the week.

Azalina was among the 15 Umno MPs who withdrew support for former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, leading to the collapse of his government last week.

In quitting, Azalina, who is an Umno supreme councillor, cited moral, personal and political conflicts for her decision.

“In future, speakers and deputy speakers of the lower house should be suspended from any political posts to ensure impartiality, which is a key feature of the office, so he or she can effectively function without fear or favour,” she said in the statement. – August 23, 2021.