Written By : Sandru
PETALING JAYA: Two Perak DAP leaders have voiced opposition against Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan being appointed a Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker.
This follows a report the Pontian MP could be appointed to replace Azalina Othman Said, who resigned from the position last month.
In separate statements, Abdul Aziz Bari and V Sivakumar said Ahmad’s appointment would leave a black mark over Parliament as the nation’s legislative body since he was facing charges in court.
“He was charged under Section 32 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Amla) on Jan 21 last year,” said Aziz, the opposition leader in the Perak state assembly.
“He should go through the legal process first and not be given any position or role of such importance in Parliament until then.”
Sivakumar, the former speaker of the state assembly, said Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob would owe the nation an apology if it was true that Ahmad would be made a deputy speaker.
The Batu Gajah MP said should Ahmad be nominated, it would be an “open assault” on Parliament’s reputation.
The duo said there were better candidates for the post than Ahmad, whom they described as from Umno’s “court cluster”.
Quoting sources, Utusan Malaysia yesterday reported that Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun was set to remain in his post, with Ahmad replacing Azalina.
It said Ahmad’s nomination had been agreed upon by parties in Perikatan Nasional and Barisan Nasional.
