Deputy speaker nomination just ‘healthy competition’, says Selangor DAP rep
The surprise nomination of Ng Suee Lim (pic) for the Selangor deputy speaker post was most likely a form of silent protest by his party DAP against ally PAS for its role in the state's menteri besar crisis.
Despite knowing that Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali had reserved the deputy speaker post for PAS, the state DAP had a meeting last month and decided that Ng should go for the post.
When asked, the Sekinchan assemblyman did not discount the possibility his nomination was because his party was upset with the Islamist party, although he stressed that his nomination was part of a new political culture to promote healthy competition.
"Maybe this is a silent protest against PAS for its role in the crisis. It could also be a form of protest for Abdul Hadi's absence in Pakatan Rakyat's meetings," he said, in referrence to PAS president Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang no-show at the coalition's leadership council meetings although the Marang MP had explained he was in ill health.
The Sekinchan assemblyman was nominated for the post by party comrade, Ean Yong Hian Wah (DAP-Seri Kembangan) and seconded by Ng Sze Han (DAP-Kinrara).
He received 14 votes - which was presumably from all the 14 DAP representatives in the state assembly - in a secret balloting process while PAS's Bangi representative Mohd Shafie Ngah got 28 votes.
Mohd Shafie was later appointed deputy speaker.
Ng was philosophical over his loss, saying that he knew his chances were slim.
However, he was happy that all of his party colleagues voted for him.
"I know it is not easy for me to win, but I tried," he added.
PKR had triggered the MB crisis in January, when it engineered the Kajang Move to replace former MB Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim with its de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Khalid, with the backing of PAS, had refused to step down for several months, and sacked all DAP and PKR executive council members from the government on August 13, two days after he was sacked from his own party.
The Port Klang assemblyman finally stepped down as MB after the PR presidential council decided on August 17 to endorse PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail for the top post in the state.
But the MB impasse dragged on after PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang overruled his party's decision and said he did not agree with Dr Wan Azizah's candidacy. Breaking ranks with the party's allies, he submitted three different names to the Sultan.
Throughout the crisis, DAP had stood by PKR's decision to replace Khalid with Dr Wan Azizah, and was attacked by several PAS leaders over its role in the issue.
The crisis was finally resolved when the Selangor Sultan consented to Azmin's appointment, and the PKR deputy president was sworn in as MB on September 23.
However, PAS's infighting continued, although it is believed that the conflict is abating after several factions from within the party convened for a retreat in Kuala Selangor earlier this month where it was decided that PAS would remain in PR. – November 24, 2014.
