Azalina resigns as Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker

24 Aug 2021

By Wartawan Nabalu News

KUALA LUMPUR: MP Pengerang Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said has officially resigned as Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker.

Azalina, who is also the UMNO supreme council member said that among the reasons for her resignation is to let the government and Opposition reboot the Dewan Rakyat.

“With the appointment of the new Prime Minister, and the public's loud and clear demand for multiparty cooperation, I vacate my seat.

“This is so that the Government and Opposition may have room to reset our Dewan Rakyat. Thus allowing this august house can truly function as the forum for professional competition and collaboration between Parties on policies and governance.

“I will support any reforms the Government and the Opposition may want to move in their collective wisdom,” she said in a statement.

She also stated that among other reasons for her resignation is due to her personal, moral views and conflict of roles and responsibilities between the UMNO supreme council members as well as an MP of a ruling coalition.

“In the future, Speakers and Deputy Speakers of the Lower House should be suspended from any political party posts to ensure political impartiality, which is a key feature of the Office, so he or she can effectively function without fear or favour,” she added.

Azalina cited that the developments in the past 17 months have led her to reflect on the institutional defects of the parliamentary institutions and her own limitations to perform her duty well without compromising her professional integrity.

“My personal value system pertaining to the rule of law, parliamentary democracy, check and balance since the Emergency Proclamation in January 2021 has been consistent.

“My frustration and distress are public knowledge, and the reasons known. My official capacity is warranted by law and process, which is to uphold the Federal Constitution and Standing Orders of the Lower House at all costs,” she said.

Azalina said that the lack of consultation and joint decision was also among the reasons for her resignation.

“The lack of consultation and joint decision-making impacted my performance as Deputy Speaker. As per Standing Order, a Deputy Speaker cannot make his or her own ruling in the Dewan.

“Shared decision making and responsibility, impartiality, fairness, and mutual respect are the key elements which I wish to see in the Malaysian Parliament.

“It has been a great honour and privilege to serve as Deputy Speaker, an office that I sincerely respect, for the past 13 months,” she explained.

In July last year, Azalina was appointed as the Dewan Rakyat’s first female Deputy Speaker, together with Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun.