Rais is ‘sole Pakatan nominee for post of Speaker’

PETALING JAYA: Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim is said to be the sole nominee from the Pakatan Harapan government for the post of Dewan Rakyat Speaker.

“(Dr) Rais is Pakatan Harapan’s man for the job,” said a source.

This comes as Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail reportedly said that the candidates for the Speaker post have been shortlisted and were now with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

She said it was up to the Prime Minister to choose the Speaker.

Three names, including Dr Rais, were originally speculated for the post.

One of them, former Selangor state assembly Speaker Hannah Yeoh, had since been appointed into the Cabinet.

A source familiar with Dewan Rakyat’s procedures said under the Standing Orders, the name of the proposed Speaker must be submitted to the parliamentary secretariat 14 days before it convenes.

“It is likely that the secretariat already knows who Pakatan has proposed but are keeping a tight lid to prevent the names from being leaked out,” the source said.

If Dr Rais is the sole candidate, then under Standing Order 4(3), he will be appointed as Speaker without debate.

It is understood that Umno, the party with the biggest number of seats in the Opposition bloc, did not submit any name for the Speaker post.

While the parliamentary secretariat could give suggestions on the seating arrangement for the ministers and MPs, this is still up to the prerogative of the parties.

“It is just a practice. There is no black and white. If the parties don’t agree, they can change it but the Speaker also has to approve the plan.

“If the Speaker does not find it suitable, then it’s back to the drawing board,” said a source, adding that the final arrangement will likely to be known a day before the start of Parliament.

Dr Mahathir will be retaking the first seat on the Government bloc facing Opposition leader Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Next in line after the Prime Minister and his deputy Dr Wan Azizah will be a senior representative from the party with the highest number of seats, who is Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.

In the same row with Lim will be senior representatives from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia and Amanah – Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu.

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is facing a corruption trial but is still Pekan MP, is likely to join the “U” block reserved for senior members.

However, the question will be where Parti Warisan Sabah chief Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal – whose party has pledged to support Pakatan Harapan – and the most senior MP from Gabungan Parti Sarawak, PBB senior vice-president Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, will be sitting.