Speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof has rejected Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s bid for a motion to keep the former in the post for the entire term of the 14th Parliament.
According to Mohamad Ariff’s written reply to Dr Mahathir, the latter’s motion was not submitted under Standing Order 27 as required of such notices.
Dr Mahathir’s notice was made under Standing Order 4 of the house’s rules, which pertains to the election of the Dewan Rakyat’s yang di-pertua (speaker) by the MPs.
“As such, I will not allow Tun to bring this matter into the meeting,” the Speaker said in the letter.
Standing Order 27 pertains to the manner of giving notices, which among others, stipulates that a notice for a motion must be submitted not less than 14 days by an MP before the sitting, or seven days if it is by a minister.
According to Ariff’s letter, Dr Mahathir’s notice was submitted on May 4.
The letter, however, does not specify which part of Standing Order 27 Dr Mahathir failed to fulfil.