Johari Abdul elected as new Dewan Rakyat Speaker

KUALA LUMPUR: Former three-term Sungai Petani member of parliament Datuk Johari Abdul has been elected as the new Dewan Rakyat Speaker today.

He was appointed as the speaker after 147 Members of Parliament (MP) voted in favour of him via a ballot.

The appointment of the Speaker was the first order of business of the House as the 15th Parliament session convened for the first time on Monday.

Johari beat the opposition nominee for the post, former home minister Tan Sri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad who only obtained 74 votes.

Johari is also formerly the PKR chief whip.

Earlier Dewan Rakyat secretary Nizam Mydin Bacha Mydin informed the house that a ballot vote had to be carried out according to Standing Order 4(3) as there is more than one candidate for the post.

Former Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun vacated his seat on Sunday night.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim( PH-Tambun) had proposed Johari as the government’s candidate for the post and his motion was seconded by his deputy Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (BN-Bagan Datuk). After the votes were tallied and Johari was announced as the Speaker, he then donned the Speaker's uniform and took his oath as Speaker before the house.

Johari then requested for all MPs to observe a minute of silence for the victims of the Batang Kali landslide.

“I hope the families of victims will remain strong through these challenging times. Thank you to those involved in search-and-rescue efforts" he addressed the house.

He then requested for each MP to take the oath at the rostrum at the House.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was the first to be sworn in, followed by his deputies Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.