Lawyers Tania Scivetti representing Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said and Parliament secretary Nizam Mydin Bacha Mydin at the Kuala Lumpur High Court September 22,2020. — Picture by Miera Zulyana
The five lawmakers named Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun, Deputy Speakers Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said and Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon, and Parliament secretary Nizam Mydin Bacha Mydin as respondents.Earlier, the respondents’ lawyer,Amer Hamzah Arshad argued the validity of the parliamentary election process of both Azhar and Azalina may not be reviewed by the courts based on Article 63 of the Federal Constitution.
“You may disagree, but it is not for the court to interfere on how Parliament proceedings are conducted. “So clearly what we’re asking for is that the court cannot decide because Parliament has exclusive right,” he said, adding that the court was not a proper forum to decide on how Parliament should conduct its business.
“In fact the former speaker accepted motions on June 26 to remove him and deputy speaker and he stated in writing, he accepted on the motions because they complied with the Standing Orders.