DECEMBER 7 — The 15th Parliament will convene for two days on December 19. It will be the first day of the meeting of the Dewan Rakyat after a general election.
After the Setiausaha reads the Proclamation of the Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong by which the meeting is summoned, the first Order of Business is the election of a new Speaker.
Article 57 of the Federal Constitution requires the Dewan Rakyat to elect a Speaker and two Deputy Speakers. The Dewan Rakyat shall not transact any business until a Speaker is elected.
Every member of the Dewan Rakyat (MP) is entitled to propose a person who is either an MP or is qualified for election as an MP as a Speaker. The MP must ascertain that the person proposed is willing to serve if elected. The MP must then notify the Setiausaha of his proposal in writing at least 14 days before the meeting.
The requirements of proposing a person, ascertaining the person is willing to be elected, and notifying the Setiausaha 14 days before the election informs us that there should be transparency in the process.
After all, the person is to be elected Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat. If “Rakyat” is “People” and “Dewan” is “House”, then Dewan Rakyat is People’s House — the People’s Dewan, if you like.
So, why are the nominees for Speaker and Deputy Speakers of the People’s Dewan yet to be made known to the people?
The exception is former Sungai Petani MP Datuk Johari Abdul who has reportedly confirmed that his name is among the nominees that are proposed as the Speaker — the People’s Speaker, if you like.
Who are the other nominees?
Monday (December 5) was the deadline to notify the Setiausaha of the nominees, whose willingness to be elected will have been ascertained by the proposer MP.
Step forward nominees. Malu apa?
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
