PETALING JAYA: Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun (pic) says he did not reject nor was he involved in the decision-making process on any motion to remove him as Dewan Rakyat Speaker.

       He said claims that he denied 15 motions to replace the Parliament Speaker were untrue and defamatory.

       "I refer to the report in Utusan Malaysia that 15 motions to replace the Speaker were denied.

       "My office did receive the motions for me to vacate my position and for other individuals to be appointed as the Speaker," he said in a statement Thursday (Sept 2).

       "Upon receiving the motions, I sent letters to those who mooted the motions that I would not be in any way involved in making a decision on these motions as I would be in a conflict of interest.

       "Any decisions on these motions have been handed over to Deputy Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon.

       "I have never taken part or interfered, in any way, in any of the decision-making processes of those motions. As a matter of fact, I do not even know what the Deputy Speaker's decision is on this matter," said Azhar Azizan.

       He alleged that the report was slanderous and would be seeking legal advice on the matter as soon as possible.

       Azhar Azizan was appointed as Dewan Rakyat speaker in July 2020 during Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's tenure as prime minister.