KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim will take on the Dewan Rakyat Speaker role if he is selected.
The former minister and Umno veteran, whose name was touted as one of the frontrunners for the role, said he viewed the role as national service.
However, when queried if he had received any circular or letter with regards to the matter, he denied receiving any formal invitation.
“If selected (as Parliament Speaker), I will accept and (consider it) as national service.
“Currently there is too much speculation, so wait until Parliament reconvenes on July 16.
“I cannot comment anything more because nothing has been communicated formally yet. It is just speculation and most of the time, speculations are inaccurate,” he said when contacted by NSTP today.
Rais said he understands the processes and law in Parliament, based on his more than 40 years’ experience in the government.
Earlier today, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the Pakatan Harapan (PH) leadership met last night and had already selected a name for the Speaker’s role.
She said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will announce the Dewan Rakyat Speaker either today or tomorrow.
Rais, who is one of the most talked about candidate for the Dewan Rakyat Speaker, has a Doctor of Philosophy degree (PhD) in law.
The names that are currently being bandied around to fill the position other than Rais are former Bersih 2.0 chairman Datuk S. Ambiga who has already quashed speculation that she is taking the job, and former Selangor State Assembly speaker Hannah Yeoh who DAP has nominated as a candidate.
The first parliamentary meeting for the new term is scheduled for 20 days from July 16 to Aug16.
The first business of the day for the august house is the election of the Dewan Rakyat Speaker, followed by the oath taking ceremony by the Dewan Rakyat members and the appointment of the Deputy Speaker.
The official opening ceremony of the parliament will be graced by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V.
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