PETALING JAYA: The Dewan Rakyat has approved a motion to postpone the election of a new deputy speaker to allow a constitutional amendment to allow a third deputy speaker – from the Opposition.

       The motion was tabled by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

       "Our reason for suspending the appointment of the deputy speaker is because we want to table amendments to the Article 57(1)(b) (of the Federal Constitution) to allow for the appointment of deputy speakers to be increased from two to three," he said when tabling the motion in Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Sept 14).

       He said that amendments to the House Standing Orders would also be done so that one of the deputy speakers would be from the Opposition.

       "The amendments would mean that irrespective of who sits as the government, one of the deputy speakers will be from the Opposition," he added

       He said he had discussed the matter with the Attorney General's Department.

       Wan Junaidi added that the proposed amendments might be tabled during the current meeting for first reading with hopes of getting it passed in October.

       The Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker post became vacant on Aug 23 after Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman stepped down.

       There was an anticipated contest for the vacancy between Umno's Pontian MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan and DAP's Teluk Intan MP Nga Kor Ming.

       Both Ahmad and Nga had lobbied for support for the post prior to the start of Dewan Rakyat meeting on Monday (Sept 13).

       Ahmad had suggested the creation of a third seat for the post last week.