There is evidently trust in Muhyiddin and his Cabinet as Budget 2021 received a majority vote at the policy stage
pic by BERNAMA
THERE is no indication that Prime Minister (PM) Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (picture) has lost the Cabinet majority which would bring forward the no-confidence and confidence motions submitted against him.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said there is evidently trust in the premier and his Cabinet as Budget 2021 received a majority vote at the policy stage recently.
The Supply Bill (Budget) 2021 was passed by voice vote, after only 13 MPs stood up to vote against it, short of the minimum 15.
“MPs can submit a no-confidence or confidence vote against the PM, but such proposals must be in order and in accordance with the Meeting Rules 26 (1) and 27 (3) of the Regulations of the House of Representatives.
“In line with the Meeting Rules, the arrangement must prioritise the government’s business and should take precedence over other matters,” Takiyuddin told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
He was responding to a query by Hassan Abdul Karim (Pakatan Harapan [PH]-Pasir Gudang) on when the motions would be tabled, debated and voted in the Dewan Rakyat.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun previously dismissed bringing forward the motions as he said it was against the Parliament’s Standing Order, and that they will be tabled after all government matters are completed.
He was asked by RSN Rayer (DAP-Jelutong) to clarify his decision.
Azhar said his decision was not reached out of whims and fancies, and is based on the ruling practices in the UK’s House of Commons in accordance with the Westminster Convention.
“I have done an in-depth research, and according to the Westminster Convention practices, the House Speaker has no power to bring forward any motion of no-confidence or confidence ahead,” he replied.
At present, there are 25 no-confidence motions and two confidence motions submitted against Muhyiddin in the current Dewan Rakyat sitting.
According to the Dewan Rakyat’s order papers, 11 motions came from Parti Amanah Negara, Parti Warisan Sabah (7) and Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (5).
DAP’s Lim Lip Eng (PH-Kepong) and PKR’s Christina Liew (PH-Tawau) both submitted a similar motion.
Meanwhile, the two confidence motions came from Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh (Perikatan Nasional[PN]-Pasir Puteh) and Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau).
Former PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad also submitted a no-confidence vote during the first and second meetings of the 14th Parliament’s third session back in May and July.
Muhyiddin beame Malaysia’s eighth premier when the country was thrown into a week of political crisis following the abrupt resignation of Dr Mahathir on Feb 24, resulting in the establishment of a new coalition, PN.
The coalition currently holds a slim majority of 112 seats in the Parliament against 108 of the Opposition side.
The support for Muhyiddin was tested against when Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was granted an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah in October after he claimed of having a parliamentary majority to form a new government.
However, Istana Negara later said in a statement that during the audience, Anwar did not present the list of the MPs who supported him and was advised to respect the due process of the law.
Read our earlier report
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