Speaker, Deputy Speaker

When the Sabah Legislative Assembly sit on Monday, the House will have two new Deputy Speakers - Datuk Frankie Chong Yu Chee and Johnny Mositun. This was announced by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman today in Tenom.

Chong and Mositun replaced Datuk Michael Tan Kun Boo and Datuk James Andrew Vitales whose term were not extended.

Chong is Vice President of Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) while Mositun is Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Information chief. SAPP and PBS are members of the national coalition Barisan Nasional.

The State Assembly Speaker is Datuk Juhar Mahiruddin, a former Deputy Speaker of Parliament.

Meanwhile, it is also now known that a Sabahan, for the first time, will be the Speaker of Parliament. He is Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, a former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department. He had also served as Sabah Assembly Speaker, was an Assemblyman, ex-Senator and Sabah ex-Minister of Agriculture and Fishery.

Yet to be confirmed is Beluran's Member of Parliament Datuk Ronald Kiandee appointment as the Parliamnent's Deputy Speaker. The other Deputy Speaker post is being eyed by Sarawakian Datuk Wan Junaidi Tunku Jaafar, the MP for Santubung. Election for the posts will be held on Monday with Kiandee, Wan Junaidi and an Opposition nominee as candidates.

Should Kiandee and Wan Junaidi get the posts, Parliament this time aroud will be under the control (the sitting is) of leaders for Sabah and Sarawak (East Malaysia).


My Say:

A Bernama report last night says Datuk Ronald Kiandee and Datuk Wan Junaidi had been appointed Deputy Speakers. I congratulated Kiandee through SMS. He replied that Monday will be the day, there will be an election but he is optimistic that `it should not be a problem.' I will wait for the result.