Wong Hon Wai Urged Azalina To Clear Whether There Is A Conflict In Terms Of The Appointments

 The Vibes / 05 October 2021

Conflict of interest? MPs urge 

Azalina to recuse herself from 

chairing Parliament

They say her appointment as special adviser to PM effectively 

makes her part of the executive

Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said was first appointed caretaker deputy speaker during proceedings on 

September 15, and has chaired the meeting on several occasions since. – Bernama pic, October 5, 2021

KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said’s appointment to

temporarily chair the Dewan Rakyat this evening was called into question, 

after opposition MPs highlighted possible conflict of interest on her part. 

This is following her appointment as special adviser to Prime Minister 

Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on matters pertaining to law and human 

rights. 

Taking up the issue in Parliament, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail 

(Kulim Bandar Baru-PH) said her appointment means she now serves 

as part of the executive body. 

He expressed concern that there could be occasions when her role would

clash with her duties as caretaker deputy speaker.

“Hypothetically, if, during the sitting, there is an issue that involves the 

position of the prime minister on matters of law and human rights that 

requires your advice, there will certainly be awkwardness, if not conflict 

of interest.” 

Azalina responded by saying her appointment was done in accordance 

with Standing Order 7(3), which allows the speaker, at any time during

a sitting, to ask an MP to take the chair temporarily without formal 

communication tothe House. 

“If you have any issue with the invitation to me, you can take it up with 

Speaker (Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun). I’m just following the speaker’s 

order, no problem,” she said. 

Wong Hon Wai (Bukit Bendera-PH) then urged Azalina to recuse 

herself from the seat, telling her to deal with the issue immediately 

and not wait for Azhar to makea ruling. 

“There is a clear conflict in terms of your appointments in the executive 

branch and in Parliament. 

“The speaker can appoint someone from among more than 100 

MPs here who are ready to temporarily chair the session. I hope 

you can make an immediate ruling and not delay it,” he said. 

To this, Azalina said she would only chair sessions from 2.30pm to

 3.30pm, and again asked MPs to take it up with Azhar. 

“I will accept any order given by the speaker. For now, I have accepted 

(to chair), and I want to carry out my duty as interim speaker for this one 

hour,” she said. 

Azalina was first appointed caretaker deputy speaker during proceedings

on September 15, and has chaired the meeting on several occasions since. 

The Umno lawmaker had resigned from the post on August 23, citing hope 

for a parliamentary reset, with no new appointments made as her 

replacement. 

On Saturday, Azalina had posted on Facebook an announcement on her 

appointment as a special adviser to Ismail Sabri, having received her 

appointment letter last Thursday.

Later in the proceeding, Azhar said there is no conflict of interest involving

Azalina, as her role as advise to the prime minister is an executive 

appointment, but merely in her own personal capacity.

He added that even if any issue of conflict of interest arises while she 

chairs the House in the future, she can recuse herself during that period.

“If, while chairing, she is not required to make any ruling related to matters

that she advises the prime minister on, then I think there is no conflict of 

interest. If a ruling needs to be made, I’m sure she will recuse herself.

“In fact, I will myself ask her to recuse herself. That’s my guarantee,” he said. 

https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/43633/conflict-of-interest-mps-urge-

azalina-to-recuse-herself-from-chairing-parliament