MP questions status of opposition leader, deputy speaker says no 'vacancy' notice
PARLIAMENT | A dispute over the status of the opposition leader post held by Hamzah Zainudin (PN-Larut) surfaced in the Dewan Rakyat today, following the former Bersatu deputy president’s sacking and expulsion from the party.
RSN Rayer (Harapan-Jelutong) raised the matter under Standing Orders 4A(3) and 4A(4), which empower the Dewan Rakyat speaker to determine the opposition leader in the event of any dispute.
“If any doubt or dispute arises as to who is or has been the opposition leader at any given time, the matter shall be decided by the speaker, and the decision certified in writing under his signature shall be final and conclusive,” he said, citing the rules.
Rayer (above) noted that Bersatu’s internal crisis had intensified after Hamzah and several other MPs were expelled from the party.
He also referenced Hamzah’s declaration, positioning himself as the “number one enemy” of Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin.
READ MORE: Experts: Hamzah's fate lies on ability to retain opposition chief post
Rayer then asked whether the Speaker’s or Deputy Speaker’s Office had received any official notification regarding the matter.
“Can the opposition carry out its responsibilities effectively if they are fighting among themselves?” he said.
Formal notification needed
Deputy speaker Ramli Nor said the Speaker’s Office had yet to receive any formal written communication on the issue.
“So far, I - and I believe the other deputy speaker as well - have not received any notification, and there has not yet been any written submission from the opposition declaring such a vacancy,” he said.
Ramli stressed that any change must be formally submitted in writing to be recognised in Parliament.
“This must be put in black and white to be codified from a legal perspective in the Dewan Rakyat,” he added.
‘Don’t interfere’
Meanwhile, Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang) urged other lawmakers not to interfere in what he described as an internal management matter.
“As long as the speaker has not received any letter from either the opposition or the government, others cannot interfere. That is the prerogative of the speaker or deputy speaker,” he said.
He added that political parties often face internal disputes and should be allowed to resolve them independently without external involvement.
Previously, Hamzah had claimed support from 18 of 25 MPs, comprising Bersatu MPs and others like him who had been sacked.
Yesterday, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said the party is considering taking over the parliamentary opposition leader’s role from Bersatu, after it named Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar as the new PN chairperson, replacing Muhyiddin.
