New Speaker Johari Abdul, Deputy Speakers – BN’s Ramli Mohd Nor, DAP’s Alice Lau

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Former Pakatan Harapan parliamentary whip Datuk Johari Abdul was today elected the new Dewan Rakyat Speaker, replacing Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun.

The election of the Speaker is the first item on the agenda for today’s special parliamentary sitting.

Two names had been proposed for Speaker. Johari’s was suggested by Anwar and seconded by Deputy Prime Minister I Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The other candidate was Tan Sri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, who was proposed by Larut MP Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin and seconded by Kota Baru MP Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan.

The two names were sent to the Dewan Rakyat Secretary Nizam Mydin Bacha Mydin on December 5.

Johari won by a resounding 147 votes while Mohd Radzi only received 74 votes.

Bernama

Johari took his oath of office before taking his seat, facing the assembled MPs.

Johari, who was elected Gurun assemblyman in 2018, is confirmed to have relinquished that position on December 13.

The Kedah state seat is now considered vacant but will not trigger a by-election as there is less than two years till a state election is to be called.

Anwar now has a long-time ally in the powerful Dewan Rakyat speaker’s seat.

Johari is part of Anwar’s inner circle, alongside Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and they both hold key positions despite not being MPs.

After the lunch break, the Dewan Rakyat elected Ramli Md Nor (BN-Cameron Highlands) and Alice Lau Kiong Yieng (Harapan-Lanang) as deputy speakers.

An election was held as the opposition nominated Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PN-Masjid Tanah) for the job.

Eventually, the House voted in favour of Ramli and Lau with 148 and 146 votes respectively, defeating Mas Ermieyati who received 74 votes.

Previously, Ramli, 64, served as acting deputy speaker during the Ismail Sabri Yaakob administration.

As for Lau, her nomination was seconded by Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof (GPS-Petra Jaya) in a move that was likely symbolic of thawing ties between Gabungan Parti Sarawak and DAP.

On Nov 24, DAP apologised for making statements which offended GPS or Sarawakians in the past.

This was widely seen as part of a deal for GPS to back Anwar as prime minister.