Nga Kor Ming has announced his resignation as Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat to stand in solidarity with former Speaker Tan Sri Ariff.

Tan Sri Ariff was removed as Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat through a motion brought by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, a move which was strongly criticized by the opposition.

 “This morning we have witnessed for the first time in the history of Malaysia, a qualified Speaker being removed from his post for absolutely no reason.

“Therefore, in full solidarity with Tan Sri Ariff and per my own principles – I will only serve the government elected by the people. Thus, I announce my resignation as deputy speaker of the Dewan Rakyat immediately,” he said in a press conference in the Parliament lobby, today.

The vacant roles for speaker and deputy speaker were filled by the former Chairman of the Election Commission, Azhar Harun and Pengerang Member of Parliament, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

Tan Sri Ariff stated that the act of a government removing a Speaker is out of the ordinary and  to his knowledge has never been performed in any other country with the exception of Trinidad and Tobago.  

Trinidad removed their Speaker Occah Seepaul in 1995 and placed her under house arrest following allegations of improper conduct.  

He stressed that there has been no other examples in 800 years of a Speaker being removed before the parliamentary session was over.