KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 — Pontian MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan today withdrew his nomination for the post of Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker.
When announcing the matter at a press conference at the Parliament building here, the MP said he made the decision to enable himself to focus more on his duties as UMNO secretary-general, especially during this political uncertainty, besides wanting more freedom to voice out his opinions at Dewan Rakyat.
“I love giving opinions. If I were to sit in the deputy speaker’ chair, what can I really say? Just telling people to sit, to leave…my active function (as MP) cannot be performed,” he said.
Ahmad also said he had notified the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun of his decision earlier today.
He said the decision was reached after discussions with the UMNO president, deputy president and three vice-presidents including Ismail Sabri, yesterday.
The post of Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker fell vacant after Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said tendered her resignation on Aug 23.
