A SENIOR minister had stopped Teluk Intan MP Nga Kor Ming from chairing this afternoon’s Dewan Rakyat proceedings, said sources.

The sources said Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun had asked Nga to preside over the afternoon session but withdrew his request after the senior minister intervened.

When contacted, Nga confirmed that Azhar had asked him to preside and that he had accepted.

But the former Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker did not want to elaborate on why he did not chair the afternoon’s proceedings.

Instead, Azhar chaired the 2.30pm meeting before switching with Deputy Speaker Rashid Hasnon (Batu Pahat-PN).

The Malaysian Insight has contacted Azhar for comments and is waiting for a response.

Dewan Rakyat, which normally has a Speaker and two deputies, is currently understaffed following the resignation of Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said on August 23.

As a result, Azalina had to step in last week to chair the afternoon’s proceedings.

The election of a new deputy, which was scheduled for September 14, was postponed to allow constitutional amendments to increase the number of deputy speakers. – September 20, 2021.