COMMENT | Third deputy speaker a very bad idea

COMMENT | Let us all say it out loud – we must stop creating new posts just because it is politically expedient to do so.

The proposal for a third deputy speaker in the Dewan Rakyat is not because there is a pressing need for an extra hand but because of the need to please politicians – in this case, the opposition, as the new post is meant for their bloc.

How do I know that there is no urgent need for a third speaker? Because up till the impending election for the second deputy speaker’s post, no one had brought up the matter.

This would also not be an issue at all if Azalina Othman Said (BN-Pengerang) did not resign as the second deputy speaker. It would have been status quo on the Parliament chair today.

No one would be talking about the burden of the job for the speaker and his two deputies. No vacancy means no fight. The problem arose only because of the existing vacancy.

Why was the extra post suddenly necessary? Was it because since the government and opposition are now more cordial and friendly after the memorandum of understanding (MOU), they can just create more positions to placate or pacify each other?

Isn’t this what it is all about? We have been talking about...