DEPUTY speaker Mohd Rashid Hasnon has rejected a motion to remove Azhar Azizan Harun as the Dewan Rakyat speaker on grounds of technicality. 

In a letter to PKR’s Lembah Pantai MP, Fahmi Fadzil, the Rashid said he rejected the motion as it did not adhere to Standing Order 4(3), which requires a proposer and seconder in a motion to elect a speaker.

“Hence, I cannot allow the motion to be tabled at the sitting,” the deputy speaker said in the letter, which was sighted by The Malaysian Insight.

Earlier today, Azhar denied setting aside 15 motions to remove him from office, as claimed in a news report.

Azhar said he will not handle the motions for his removal and appointment of another candidate as it is a conflict of interest, and has left them to be determined by Rashid. 

“An Utusan Malaysia report, which among others claimed that I set aside the motions from being debated and insinuated I rejected the motions, is untrue.

“I see this as a lie and slander with the intention to tarnish my reputation,” Azhar said in a statement today.

He added that he has informed the MPs who filed the motion that he will not meddle in the matter.

“I have not participated in any way or interfered in any decision made on the motions. In fact, I don’t even know of the deputy speaker’s decision,” he said. – September 2, 2021.