Azhar Azizan saddened by broken friendship after appointment as Dewan Rakyat Speaker

KUALA LUMPUR: The appointment of Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun as Dewan Rakyat Speaker after the Perikatan Nasional (PN) took over the country’s administration has caused him to lose some good friends.

Speaking to the MalaysiaNow portal, Azhar said his friends had changed their attitude and became "as if they were not friends" when he was appointed as Speaker.

Azhar admitted that what happened was one of the things that made him sad in 2020.

However, Azhar explained that his role before being appointed as the Dewan Rakyat Speaker and after assuming the position was still the same as he was not supporting any party.

"I have not changed. I'm in the middle here. Previously, A on the left, A looked to my left. B on the right, B looked to my right.

"Now, I'm still in the middle. B has come here, A has come here,” he said, referring to the change of sitting position in the Dewan Rakyat after Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was appointed prime minister following the fall of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.

"That's all. No shrimps, no stones (as in a Malay proverb). Previously, A saw a stone. B used to see a shrimp. Now B sees a stone, A sees a shrimp. I am (still) here," he said.

Azhar, who is also fondly known as Art Harun, was happy to play an important role in leading the Dewan Rakyat session as he had friends on both sides.

"The reaction I got was very shocking. It still surprises me until now,” he added.

Azhar was appointed as the 10th Dewan Rakyat Speaker in July last year.