Former judge Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof is new Dewan Rakyat speaker
Former Court of Appeal judge likely to get it today
FORMER Court of Appeal judge, Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof, who was tipped to be the new Dewan Rakyat speaker, was expected to receive the appointment letter by today.
“I am waiting for the official (appointment letter). We will (wait and) see because if the letter is issued tomorrow (today), it will be too close (to the Parliamentary session on Monday). I don’t think (the letter will be issued) on Sunday,” he said yesterday.
Ariff was commenting on media reports that had named him and another former Court of Appeal judge, Datuk Seri Mohd Hishamudin Yunus, as the candidates for the position.
Sungai Petani member of parliament and Gurun assemblyman Datuk Johari Abdul, who was earlier tipped to be the next Dewan Rakyat speaker, along with several names, including Tan Sri Rais Yatim, had turned down the appointment.
Article 57(4) of the Federal Constitution states that an assemblyman chosen to be Dewan Rakyat speaker must relinquish the state seat before assuming the new role.
The first meeting of the first session of the 14th Parliament will run for 20 days between July 16 and Aug 16.
The proceedings on the first day will begin with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad tabling the first motion for the election of the Dewan Rakyat speaker.
The speaker’s oath-taking ceremony will be followed by the swearing-in of the 222 members of parliament in front of the speaker.
Dr Mahathir will be the first person to take his oath, followed by his deputy, ministers, deputy ministers and other members of parliament.
Next will be the appointment of the two deputy speakers consisting of members of parliament from the government bench.
On Tuesday, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V will officially open the first session of the 14th Parliament.