Opposition to bid for Deputy Speaker’s post

By LEE YUK PENG and ZULKIFLI ABD RAHMAN, the star

PETALING JAYA: With 82 seats under their control, the Opposition parties want to set a precedent in the Dewan Rakyat by proposing one of their MPs for the post of Deputy Speaker.

Outgoing Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang said he had written to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on March 25 asking for a consensus on the matter. The Speaker and the two deputies were usually elected by MPs.

He said in return, the Opposition could agree to a consensus on the Speaker and the other deputy.....

There are now 140 Barisan MPs to 82 Opposition MPs in the Dewan Rakyat.

PKR won 31 seats, DAP 28 and PAS 23. Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin will open the joint session of the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara on April 29.

BERITADARIGUNUNG: The recent episode in perlis and terengganu is pointing to this fact. When leadership is failing, the king will chip in.