The election for the two posts of deputy speaker proceeded smoothly, but many were puzzled why DAP national deputy chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw only managed to get 81 votes when there were 82 Opposition representatives in the Dewan Rakyat today.

After the sitting was adjourned, media representatives especially, were trying to find out who among the Opposition MPs did not cast his/her vote for Dr Tan, a dermotologist by profession.

There were three candidates vying for the deputy speaker posts. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi nominated Datuk Wan Juniadi Tuanku Jaafar (Santubong) and Datuk Ronald Kiandee (Beluran) while DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang only named Dr Tan.

Wan Junaidi received 157 votes, Ronald (140) and Dr Tan (81) after all MPs cast their votes through ballot paper.

When met later, Parti Keadilan Rakyat president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said all Opposition MPs voted for Dr Tan, except one.
She said that since the Opposition had only submitted one name for the two posts, it was only natural that they had to vote one of the BN MPs as the deputy speaker.

“All of us cast the votes, except one, for Dr Tan Seng Giaw. There are two names for deputy speaker, all of us voted for Dr Tan,” she said.

“We only nominated one, not two. So it is only natural they have to vote one of them. It’s doesn’t matter, actually,” said Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (Bagan).