Opposition lawmakers from Barisan Nasional (BN) and PAS storm out of the Dewan Rakyat in protest, July 16, 2018. — Picture by Miera Zulyana

KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 — Opposition lawmakers are demanding a 14-day adjournment of the current Dewan Rakyat sitting in order to satisfy the notice period necessary for the appointment of Datuk Mohd Ariff Yusof as the Speaker.

The group walked out of the Dewan Rakyat earlier after their objections to Ariff’s selection were ignored.

Kota Baru MP Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan from PAS, who led the walkout, insisted it was impossible for the letter of nomination for Ariff to have been submitted by July 2, the latest necessary to observe the 14-day notice period required by the Standing Orders.

“We have no problem with the choice of the Speaker. But because of this mandatory rule in the Standing Orders, we urge the sitting to be postponed by 14 days,” he said.

However, the Opposition lawmakers went on to take their oaths of office despite storming out prior to the ceremony.

Takiyuddin, who tried repeatedly to raise the points of order to contest Ariff’s nomination, claimed that information gleaned from media reports made it appear impossible that the nomination was done on July 2.

However, DAP parliamentary leader and Transport Minister Anthony Loke rejected the claim and insisted that Ariff’s name was entered on that date.

“As the Dewan Rakyat secretary said, the name was submitted on July 2.

“As far as we are concerned, the name of this particular candidate was submitted on July 2,” he said, referring to Ariff.