Group wants next PM stripped of power to frustrate confidence vote

 

A group of civil society organisations wants the next government to ensure future prime ministers cannot frustrate the parliamentary process when it comes to a confidence vote.

This is as Muhyiddin Yassin (above) is expected to resign as the prime minister tomorrow after running out of options to rebuild his crumbled majority.

Muhyiddin had wanted to wait until Sept 7 for a confidence vote but faced pressure from Istana Negara, which took it upon itself to clarify Muhyiddin's majority with Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun as it did not want to see further delays.

Since Muhyiddin came to power, the outgoing prime minister with Azhar's aid had blocked multiple attempts of a confidence vote, which bought him time as defections were engineered.

The group proposed that political parties and the incoming government should amend the parliamentary standing orders to prevent the prime minister and Dewan Rakyat speaker from stalling a vote of confidence.

It said this can be done if the standing orders accord the highest priority for a motion of confidence over government motions.

"To avoid another future political crisis where the prime minister's majority cannot be transparently and effectively determined, the Dewan Rakyat standing orders must be amended to prioritise vote of confidence or no confidence if the need arises and government affairs should not be an obstacle," it added.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun

The group also wants the prime minister to have less say in the affairs of Parliament.

Instead, it said other players such as the opposition leader, backbencher MPs and ordinary citizens should be empowered to have a bigger say in parliamentary affairs.

They suggested this can be achieved by ensuring that the opposition leader must be consulted on the parliamentary agenda, allowing space for private member's bills, organising a backbencher's day as well as allowing private citizens to file a petition to Parliament.

It also wanted Parliament to be given autonomy in terms of financing, human resources and administration.

This is on top of a special parliamentary select committee on parliamentary reforms which must report its findings to the Dewan Rakyat for execution.

The group said this will require a Dewan Rakyat speaker and Dewan Negara president who are committed to the reform agenda.

The joint statement was supported by Bersih, Institute for Political Reform and Democracy (Reform), Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas), Engage, Undi18 and Bait al-Amanah. - Mkini