PERIKATAN Nasional (PN) has a different view over proposals to appoint three deputy speakers for the Dewan Rakyat and wants to meet the prime minister on the matter, coalition chairman Muhyiddin Yassin said.

He said he would meet Ismail Sabri Yaakob soon to convey PN’s stand on the matter, but did not state what the coalition’s view was to the media.

“The PN supreme council has decided that I, as coalition chairman, will meet with the prime minister to state our view about the appointment of the deputy speakers.

“We have our own position and will state it to the prime minister,” Muhyiddin said after chairing the PN meeting in Kuala Lumpur this evening.

The Dewan Rakyat last month postponed the election of a new deputy speaker to allow amendments to the Federal Constitution and to the House Standing Orders to increase the number of deputy speakers from two to three, and to allow for one of them to be a member of the opposition.

There is currently only one deputy speaker – Rashid Hasnon – after Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said resigned from the post in August.

As of now, the two names said to be in the running for the post are Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan from Umno and Teluk Intan MP Nga Kor Ming from Pakatan Harapan (PH). Nga was formerly deputy speaker when PH was in federal power.

Bersatu, though part of the government with Umno, is said to not support Ahmad for the deputy speaker’s post as he faced corruption charges.

However, the Kuala Lumpur High Court yesterday acquitted Ahmad of a money laundering charge and for making a false statement after he paid a compound of RM1.1 million as settlement.

On the PN supreme council meeting this evening, Muhyiddin said the council agreed to support the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on transformation and political stability that Ismail signed with PH last month.

One of the reforms in the MOU is the implementation of Undi18, which Muhyiddin said PN supported and will be taking steps to reach young and new voters.

He also said that PN will hold an official launch ceremony of the coalition at national level next month, in Selangor. – September 30, 2021.