Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat
The Speaker of the House of Representatives (Malay: Yang di-Pertua Dewan Rakyat) is the highest-ranking presiding officer of the Dewan Rakyat, the lower house of the Parliament of Malaysia. He is responsible for convening sessions of the Dewan Rakyat, organising debates, and examining the admissibility of petitions, bills and amendments.
| Speaker of the House of Representatives
Yang di-Pertua Dewan Rakyat | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Dewan Rakyat | |
| Style | Yang Berhormat Tuan Yang di-Pertua (formal) Tuan Speaker (informal and within the House) |
| Member of | Committee of Selection, Standing Orders Committee, House Committee, Committee of Privileges |
| Reports to | Dewan Rakyat |
| Appointer | Elected by members of the Dewan Rakyat |
| Term length | Elected at the start of each Parliament, upon a vacancy |
| Constituting instrument | Federal Constitution of Malaysia |
| Inaugural holder | Mohamad Noah Omar |
| Formation | 11 September 1959 |
| Salary | MYR 372,000 annually[1] |
| Website | Parliament of Malaysia |
In the absence of the Speaker, one of his deputies will take his place.[2] The most recent Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, independent Mohamad Arif Md Yusof, was removed from office on 13 July 2020.[3] His deputies were Mohd Rashid Hasnon and Nga Kor Ming.
Functions
The Speaker determines when a sitting of the House should open and close, and may suspend the sitting for a brief period of time if necessary. He is also in charge of ensuring the Constitution and Standing Orders of the House are given due respect, disciplining members of the House, determining who shall have the floor during a sitting, calling a vote, and checking for a quorum when the House meets. He only participates in a vote when there is a tie.[2] The Speaker also has powers some allege to be excessive, such as imposing limits on the posing of supplementary questions during Question Time — an important procedure for the legislature to examine the government's actions, the power to restrict the tabling of questions for Question Time, and the power to amend written copies of speeches made by members of the House before they are given verbally.[4]
Speaker election
The Speaker is elected to a term that lasts for the length of the term of the Dewan Rakyat that elected him. His term ends when the House is dissolved and a general election is called. He is elected when the House meets for the first time after a general election by the members of the House, who are called MPs. Any MP is qualified to be the Speaker of the House, but non-MPs who meet the same qualifications required to be an MP are also eligible for election as Speaker. A candidate for Speaker must be nominated and seconded by at least two MPs other than himself. This nomination process must be conducted at least 14 days before the election of the Speaker. If only one candidate meets these conditions, he is automatically elected Speaker; otherwise, voting by secret ballot is conducted, with the winner decided by a simple majority. Two deputy Speakers are elected in a similar manner.
The Secretary (Malay:Setiausaha) of the House presides over the voting.[2]
List of Speakers of the Dewan Rakyat
| Parliament | No. | Portrait | Speaker | Term start | Term end |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st 1959–1964 |
1 |  |
Mohamad Noah Omar | 11 September 1959 | 1 March 1964 |
| 2nd 1964–1969 |
2 |  |
Syed Esa Alwee | 18 May 1964 | 24 November 1964 |
| 3 |  |
Chik Mohamed Yusuf Sheikh Abdul Rahman | 25 November 1964 | 20 March 1969 | |
| 3rd 1971–1974 |
20 February 1971 | 31 July 1974 | |||
| 4th 1974–1978 |
4 |  |
Nik Ahmad Kamil Nik Mahmood | 4 November 1974 | 20 December 1977 |
| 5 |  |
Syed Nasir Ismail | 9 January 1978 | 12 June 1978 | |
| 5th 1978–1982 |
31 July 1978 | 29 March 1982 | |||
| 6th 1982–1986 |
6 |  |
Mohamed Zahir Ismail | 14 June 1982 | 19 July 1986 |
| 7th 1986–1990 |
6 October 1986 | 4 October 1990 | |||
| 8th 1990–1995 |
3 December 1990 | 6 April 1995 | |||
| 9th 1995–1999 |
7 June 1995 | 10 November 1999 | |||
| 10th 1999–2004 |
20 December 1999 | 4 March 2004 | |||
| 11th 2004–2008 |
17 May 2004 | 14 October 2004 | |||
| 7 |  |
Ramli Ngah Talib | 22 November 2004 | 13 February 2008 | |
| 12th 2008–2013 |
8 |  |
Pandikar Amin Mulia | 28 April 2008 | 3 April 2013 |
| 13th 2013–2018 |
28 June 2013 | 10 May 2018 | |||
| 14th 2018–Incumbent |
9 |  |
Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof | 16 July 2018 | 13 July 2020 |
| 10 |  |
Azhar Azizan @ Harun | 13 July 2020 | Incumbent |
Election results
Living former Speakers
List of Deputy Speakers of the Dewan Rakyat
The Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives) shall be from time to time elect two deputy speakers from among members of the House. During any vacancy in the office of Speaker or during any absence of the Speaker from any sitting, one of the Deputy Speakers or, if both the Deputy Speakers are absent or if both their offices are vacant, such other member as may be determined by the rules of procedure of the House, shall act as Speaker.
| Parliament | No. | Deputy Speaker | Term start | Term end |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd 1964–1969 |
1 | Syed Esa Alwee | 25 November 1964 | 20 March 1969 |
| 3rd 1971–1974 |
2 | Nik Ahmad Kamil Nik Mahmud | 9 March 1971 | 31 July 1974 |
| 4th 1974–1978 |
3 | Syed Nasir Ismail | 6 November 1974 | 8 January 1978 |
| 4 | Azahari Md. Taib | 21 March 1978 | 12 June 1978 | |
| 5th 1978–1982 |
5 | Mansor Othman | 23 October 1978 | 29 March 1982 |
| 6th 1982–1986 |
6 | Hee Tien Lai | 14 June 1982 | 26 July 1983 |
| 7 | Abdul Hamid Pawanteh | 26 October 1984 | 19 July 1986 | |
| 7th 1986–1990 |
8 | D. P. Vijandran | 8 October 1986 | 23 February 1990 |
| 9 | Mohamed Amin Daud | 8 October 1986 | 4 October 1990 | |
| 10 | Ong Tee Keat | 11 June 1990 | 4 October 1990 | |
| 8th 1990–1995 |
(10) | Ong Tee Keat | 5 December 1990 | 6 April 1995 |
| 11 | Juhar Mahiruddin | 5 December 1990 | 6 April 1995 | |
| 9th 1995–1999 |
(10) | Ong Tee Keat | 12 June 1995 | 10 November 1999 |
| (11) | Juhar Mahiruddin | 12 June 1995 | 10 November 1999 | |
| 10th 1999–2004 |
12 | Muhammad Abdullah | 20 December 1999 | 4 March 2004 |
| 13 | Lim Si Cheng | 20 December 1999 | 4 March 2004 | |
| 11th 2004–2008 |
(13) | Lim Si Cheng | 17 May 2004 | 13 February 2008 |
| 14 | Yusof Yacob | 17 May 2004 | 13 February 2008 | |
| 12th 2008–2013 |
15 | Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar | 28 April 2008 | 3 April 2013 |
| 16 | Ronald Kiandee | 28 April 2008 | 3 April 2013 | |
| 13th 2013–2018 |
(16) | Ronald Kiandee | 24 June 2013 | 10 May 2018 |
| 17 | Ismail Mohamed Said | 24 June 2013 | 10 May 2018 | |
| 14th 2018–Incumbent |
18 | Mohd Rashid Hasnon | 16 July 2018 | Incumbent |
| 19 | Nga Kor Ming | 16 July 2018 | 13 July 2020 | |
| 20 | Azalina Othman Said | 13 July 2020 | Incumbent |
Election results
Living former Deputy Speakers
- Abdul Hamid Pawanteh
- D. P. Vijandran
- Mohamed Amin Daud
- Ong Tee Keat
- Juhar Mahiruddin
- Muhammad Abdullah
- Lim Si Cheng
- Yusof Yacob
- Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar
- Ronald Kiandee
- Ismail Mohamed Said
- Nga Kor Ming
Notes and references
- "Gaji dan elaun Ahli Parlimen naik sehingga 40 peratus | MetroPost Malaysia". 2015-04-10. Archived from the original on 2017-11-17. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
- "Malaysia". Retrieved Dec. 10, 2005.
- "Malaysian PM unseats house speaker in vote seen as crucial test of support". The Telegram. 13 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- "Malaysia". Retrieved Feb. 12, 2006.
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