AG: Unclear if PM lost majority, MPs to decide not party statement

 

It is not clear that Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has lost the confidence of a majority of MPs, said Attorney-General Idrus Harun.

He said this in light of Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announcing that his party was withdrawing support for Muhyiddin as the prime minister.

He said the determination of the majority cannot be done through statements but must be determined by MPs.

Idrus, in a statement today, made reference to Zahid's statement without naming him.

"For now, the government does not have any clear facts to show that the prime minister no longer enjoyed the confidence of a majority of Dewan Rakyat members.

"Based on Article 43(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution, the determination on whether someone enjoys the confidence of a majority of Dewan Rakyat members must be decided by the Dewan Rakyat members themselves and not through a statement by a political party or any political party leader.

"Therefore, based on the law, the prime minister and the current cabinet will clearly remain and continue to exercise their federal executive powers," Idrus said.

Zahid last night announced that Umno was withdrawing support for Muhyiddin.

The decision was endorsed by a majority of the Umno supreme council.

However, it is unclear if Zahid has the majority support of Umno's 38 MPs.

Many of the MPs are opposed to his move to withdraw from the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.

But as Muhyiddin only commands a four-seat majority, a small number of the 38 MPs is enough to see the PN government collapsed.

Zahid, in his announcement, called for an interim government to take over.

He also stressed that Umno will not accept a Pakatan Harapan-led government as a replacement.

Parliament is set to convene on July 26. - Mkini