Council also committed to backing Anwar as PM candidate and authorises him to negotiate with Mohd Shafie on premiership
by AFIQ AZIZ/ pic by BERNAMA
PAKATAN Harapan (PH) presidential council has voiced its commitment to retain the current House of Representatives Speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof and his deputy Nga Kor Ming in the upcoming Parliament session next Monday.
In a statement yesterday, PH said the consensus was reached by all of its component parties at a meeting held earlier.
The statement was made following reports that Prime Minister (PM) Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has submitted a proposal to replace Mohamad Ariff and Nga during the Parliament sitting with other candidates.
“The presidential council unanimously decided to reject Muhyiddin’s proposal to unfasten Mohamad Ariff as the speaker and Nga as the deputy speaker.
“We are consistent with our stand that the federal and state governments should be focused to aid the people during the post-Covid-19 pandemic,” the PH council said.
The statement was signed by PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu and DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng.
On Sunday, Mohamad Ariff confirmed receiving the motions proposing to terminate him as the Dewan Rakyat speaker and Nga as his deputy.
He said both motions were adopted in accordance with common practice and in accordance with Dewan Rakyat Standing Orders without prejudice.
Last week, PH secretarial council said the removal of Mohamad Ariff and Nga is unnecessary, saying they had served well in their capacities. The council credited Mohamad Ariff for restoring the public’s trust in the Parliament.
Critics have questioned the move to replace the speaker, saying it could be an attempt to prevent any motion unfavourable to the government. They also said while it is within the PM’s constitutional right to remove the speaker, there must be a legitimate reason to do so.
The PH presidential council meeting yesterday also discussed ways for the coalition to regain Putrajaya, after losing its federal power in a week of political tussle in February.
PH said the meeting had agreed to allow Anwar — the PM candidate for PH — to negotiate with Parti Warisan Sabah president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, who has also been nominated for the same post.
“We are committed to the original stance to back Anwar as (the) PM candidate and also discussed the nomination of Mohd Shafie for the premiership.
“The council believes all effort towards returning the people’s mandate must go on and requires the support of all parties.
“As such, we are giving the full mandate for Anwar to discuss with all parties towards (that) end, including with Mohd Shafie,” the PH presidential council said.
Yesterday’s statement comes weeks after the coalition became stuck in a deadlock on the PM candidate.
The parliamentary sitting next Monday will see the number of media personnels limited to only one reporter and a videographer or photographer as the country is still under the Recovery Movement Control Order.
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