KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan (BN-Pontian) has decided to pull out of the race to become a Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker.
According to Ahmad, after discussing the matter with the Umno supreme council, he decided to prioritise party work by fulfilling his duties as the secretary-general.
"I have discussed with the Umno president, the deputy president, the three vice-presidents, including the prime minister, and I have decided to withdraw myself as a Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker candidate.
"The main reason is I want to focus my attention on my work as the Umno secretary-general which takes up a lot of time, especially during such challenging times … we all know about the politic scenario now.
"I have met Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun to inform him of my decision," Ahmad said during a press conference in the Parliament building today.
After the change of government in August, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (BN-Pengerang) resigned as the second Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker after which Ahmad offered himself as a candidate for the post.
Besides Ahmad, Nga Kor Ming (PH-Teluk Intan) was also proposed as a candidate.
According to Ahmad, he wanted to give space to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to nominate a name to take up the second deputy post before the next Parliament meeting on Oct 25.
Asked on who would be replacing him, Ahmad briefly said there were "one or two names", insisting that the candidates must come from Umno.
Currently, Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon holds one of the two existing Deputy Speaker posts.