BERSATU has rejected the nomination of Ahmad Maslan as Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker in line with the party’s policy of no support for leaders whose integrity is in doubt, party sources said.

Pontian MP Ahmad, who is the Umno secretary-general, faces two charges over the receipt of RM2 million from former prime minister Najib Razak, money that is alleged to be illegal gains.

“Bersatu MPs have rejected Ahmad Maslan because of the court case,” a party insider, who is an MP, told The Malaysian Insight.

A source in Perikatan Nasional (PN) said Ahmad would fail to secure the full vote of the coalition in an election for the deputy speaker. 

“Ahmad has been personally informed by the Bersatu leadership of the party’s stand,” the source said.

A deputy speaker’s seat is vacant after Azalina Othman Said resigned last month on the grounds of   morality and integrity.

Bersatu has 31 lawmakers without whose support Ahmad could not hope to win the election. 

He was set to face Pakatan Harapan nominee Nga Kor Meng for the position.

However, the election of a new deputy speaker yesterday was postponed by the government until the Federal Constitution was amended to add a third deputy speaker in the Dewan Rakyat.

The amendment will include a special seat for the opposition, Law and Parliament Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said yesterday.

On Monday, several Bersatu MPs told the media they had not received instructions to withhold their votes for Ahmad.

Several opposition leaders had previously disputed Ahmad’s candidacy and urged the MPs, especially Bersatu representatives, to take a stand in rejecting a nominee who is part of the “court cluster” of lawmakers, so called because they face charges in court.

Ahmad is accused of failing to declare a sum of RM2 million he received from Najib. He has also been charged with giving false statements to Malaysian Anti -Corruption Commission investigators.

The case will go to trial in the Kuala Lumpur High Court in June next year..

Umno Supreme Council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi said the Bersatu and four independent MPs who rejected the candidacy of Ahmad had been politically manipulated. – September 15, 2021.