KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar is set to come out of retirement soon to begin work as the Dewan Negara speaker.
However, a pressing matter related to his appointment as a senator still needs to be resolved and will need the advice of the Attorney-General.
Wan Junaidi told the New Straits Times that he is currently the government's sole nominee to replace Tan Sri Rais Yatim as Senate president, whose term ended yesterday (Thursday).
Based on the rules, Wan Junaidi said, he could be declared as speaker if no other nominees were named.
"I was informed by my Premier (Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg) that (Prime Minister) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would like to nominate me as a speaker and asked if I agreed to it or not.
"Considering all the facts, I told him (Abang Johari) that if my service is required, I have no problem returning to work.
"I am going to start work tomorrow to discuss with the Dewan Negara secretary to ensure smooth proceedings, which begin next week," he said.
However, a pressing matter still lingers before the Dewan Negara can declare that he is the Senate president.
Wan Junaidi said he must first be sworn in as senator.
"But the question that arises now is that in front of whom do I take my oath since there is no more senate president and deputy president at the moment?
"We are seeking the advice of the Attorney-General," he said.
"As for my deputy, I was told there are two names, so there will be a contest.
"Perhaps after we settle the process of appointing the president, then we can hold the election for deputy."
Wan Junaidi, however, did not reveal the nominees for Dewan Negara deputy speaker.