Perak assembly fast tracks confidence vote on MB

 

The Perak state legislative assembly has resolved to bring forward a motion of confidence on Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu.

Salbiah Mohamed (BN-Temenggor) and Howard Lee (Harapan-Pasir Pinji) had filed emergency motions to do so this morning, prompting assembly speaker Mohamad Zahir Abdul Khalid to seek the House's permission to do so.

Following this, 45 out of 59 assemblypersons agreed while nine disagreed.

The motion to express confidence in Faizal's leadership was moved by Abdul Manaf Hashim (BN-Pengkalan Bharu). It was initially placed last on the Order Paper and was to be debated after the state's budget for 2021 was passed.

Once his motion was fast-tracked, Manaf was asked to address the House where he explained that there was a need to determine the legitimacy of Faizal's support to hold the position of menteri besar.

He said although Faizal was legally the menteri besar, there are still accusations that the Perak government was a "backdoor government".

Since it was impossible to hold a state election now to dispel such a perception, Manaf argued that the best way to determine Faizal's legitimacy was through the legislative assembly.

'No Umno-DAP plot'

Manaf also stressed that his party (Umno) dan DAP were not in cahoots in bringing down Faizal.

However, he said that DAP, the largest party in the previous Pakatan Harapan government, had issues with Faizal and once sent emissaries to Umno to discuss the possibility of ousting him.

As for Umno, he said the party also had issues with Faizal, citing how Perak Umno was once compelled to publicly state that they were not consulted over the appointment of the menteri besar's political secretary.

"We can see that both the biggest parties in the previous Harapan government and now the PN-BN government has problems with (Faizal).

"Therefore, the best place to address this is in this House. Therefore, there is no reason to say Umno is in cahoots with DAP," he said.

PAS man backs Faizal

Razman Zakaria (PAS-Gunung Semanggol) supported Abdul Manaf's motion but for different reasons.

He argued that Faizal had left Harapan for the right reasons and that the menteri besar was focussing on education and academic standards.

An attempt to remove Faizal during a pandemic would be "treacherous", said Razman.

"Society (will judge us) if a motion to oust (Faizal) or change the government at a time when the country is facing a pandemic as treachery towards country, race and religion.

"I support this motion and I urge all assemblypersons to support it," said Razman.

The opposition passed on the opportunity to debate the motion.

Abdul Manaf, in his winding-up speech, said Umno was not power-crazy and that his motion was in Perak's best interest.

Eventually, when the votes were cast, 10 assemblypersons supported Abdul Manaf's motion of confidence while 48 rejected it. There was one "spoilt" vote.

With that, the House concluded that Faizal no longer commanded enough support to continue as menteri besar which he acknowledged. - Mkini