PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's bid to move a motion to retain Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof's as the Dewan Rakyat Speaker has been rejected.
In a letter dated May 5, Ariff wrote to reply that Dr Mahathir's proposal to put forward a motion and resolution on the matter would not be allowed when Parliament sits for a day on May 18.
He referred to Dr Mahathir's earlier letter on May 4, which proposed to move a motion under Standing Order 4 for the Speaker to be retained until Parliament is dissolved.
Ariff wrote to inform Dr Mahathir that the proposed motion should have been filed under Standing Order 27.
"For the information of YABhg Tun, the motion referred to should be put forward and adhere to Standing Order 27.
"In this matter, I have studied the motion proposed by YABhg Tun and found that it was not proposed under Standing Order 27.
"For that reason, I will not allow the motion to be brought to Parliament," wrote Ariff.
Standing Order 4 refers to the procedure for the election of the Yang di-Pertua while Standing Order 27 dealt with the manner of giving notices.
On April 17, Dewan Rakyat secretary Riduan Rahmat issued a notice to MPs for a one-day Parliament sitting on May 18.
He noted that the sitting was for the official opening of Parliament by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and no motions would be accepted or raised.
