KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 18 — Former Sungai Petani MP Datuk Johari Abdul has fuelled speculation that he will be named as the new Dewan Rakyat Speaker after having announced his resignation as a state assemblyman in Kedah.
Sinar Harian reported that Johari, who is also the Opposition leader in Kedah, confirmed the mail correspondence with Kedah Speaker Datuk Juhari Bulat in regard to his resignation which was formally received on December 13.
Johari, who is the incumbent Gurun state assemblyman, said the letter informed Juhari of the immediate vacancy of the state seat on the date the letter was posted.
Apart from Johari’s name who is representing the government bloc, former Kangar MP Tan Sri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad is also understood to have been nominated by the Opposition bloc under Perikatan Nasional (PN) for the Speaker post.
A two-day sitting on December 19 and 20 is scheduled for the first meeting of the 15th Parliament following the 15th general election that ended on November 19.
Incumbent Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun had previously confirmed he would officially step down from his position before Parliament convenes on December 18. He had also said that there would have to be an election for the Speaker if there was more than one nominee.
As for deputy Speakers, DAP’s Lanang MP Alice Lau dan Barisan Nasional’s Cameron Highlands MP Ramli Md Nor were also reported to have been nominated as candidates from the government bloc.
Former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin is also nominated as a candidate from the Opposition bloc under PN.
