KUALA LUMPUR: The opposition bloc is of the opinion that a vote of confidence against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should not be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat after the Yang Dipertuan Agong approved his appointment as Prime Minister.
PAS Secretary General, Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said, because of that the opposition chose not to get involved in the voting, and let it be approved by voice vote.
The Kota Bharu MP explained again, it also shows that there is no clear figure of how many MPs support Anwar as Prime Minister.
“What we discussed revolved around the purpose of why it was brought. In our view, in general, there should be no need to bring it because the Yang Dipertuan Agong has already appointed the Prime Minister under Article 43(2) in the Constitution, at the discretion of the Yang Dipertuan Agong.
“The Prime Minister after being appointed has formed a government and what needs to be brought is the Prime Minister’s motion to believe, unless the Prime Minister wishes to prove how much support he has (either) a simple majority, two-thirds or so.
“This is what happened today, the support for the Prime Minister from 222 Members of Parliament, it is unknown, that’s all… it is not known how many people supported,” he said in a press conference at Parliament, on Monday.
Commenting further, Takiyuddin said the opposition also questioned the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of the Unity Government which allegedly contradicted Article 49A of the Federal Constitution.
“What is in this MoU, any Member of Parliament or parties that sign this MoU if they do not vote or support the Prime Minister are considered to have lost their position. Is it in 49A? That is what Datuk Seri Azalina Othman asked, and was not answered. .
“The answer is no. The meaning is, what is done is in conflict with the Constitution. Voting by force is a conflict with the law and this agreement is null and void,” he said.
Article 49A of the Federal Constitution is a new amendment to the Federal Constitution enacted to prevent Members of Parliament from switching parties. It does not prevent a Member of Parliament from voting against the instructions of his own party.
source – Hasimi Muhamad
