PN won't support proposal to create third Deputy Speaker post - Muhyiddin

He said the PN Supreme Council was of the view that the role of two Deputy Speakers as stipulated in Article 57(1)(b) of the Federal Constitution was enough to ensure the smooth running of the Dewan Rakyat meetings.

In addition, Article 57(3) of the Federal Constitution allows any member of the Dewan Rakyat to chair a Dewan Rakyat sitting in the absence of the Speaker and Deputy Speakers, he said.

"Therefore, there is no need for the Federal Constitution to be amended to add another Deputy Speaker post at this time. The proposal to amend the constitution would require the support of two thirds of the MPs," he said in a statement today.

Muhyiddin said that the memorandum of understanding between the government and the opposition signed on Sept 13 was limited to the matters that had been agreed upon.

"Amending the constitution to increase the number of Deputy Speakers was not part of the agreement. Therefore, it is not reasonable for any party to demand for it," he said.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the election of Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker to fill the post vacated by Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said had been postponed.

He said the postponement was to enable Article 57 (1)(b) of the Federal Constitution to be amended to increase the number of Deputy Speakers from the current two to three.