It's a well-kept secret as I've not been notified as Dewan Rakyat Speaker, says Johari Abdul

ALOR SETAR: Sungai Petani PKR MP Datuk Johari Abdul (pic) said he has not been notified as a candidate for the Dewan Rakyat Speaker.

Johari said there was no indication from the party that he would be picked as the Speaker.

"It looks like it is a well-kept secret, at least from me although my name is being bandied around," Johari told The Star on Wednesday (July 11).

Johari said if selected for the post, he would perform his duties along non-partisan lines and uphold the constitution at all times.

"Reforming the Parliament would be on the top of my agenda, something which was not completed earlier during the tenure of former speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin," he said.

He, however, praised Pandikar for carrying out his duties to the best of his ability.

"My experience as the PKR whip in Parliament would be an added boost to my role as a Speaker," added Johari.

The three-term MP has been tipped to be named the Dewan Rakyat Speaker, with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad expected to make the announcement on Wednesday (July 11).

Johari's selection was believed to have been decided at the Pakatan Harapan meeting on Monday night (July 9) held at the Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya.

Among those who attended the meeting were Dr Mahathir, who is Pakatan chairman, PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia deputy president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir and Pakatan secretariat chief Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.