Without vote, numbers from speaker merely speculation - Annuar Musa

 

Without a proper parliamentary voting process, any figure provided by Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun on the number of MPs supporting Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is hypothetical and can be challenged, said Annuar Musa (above).

“Firstly, Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun has to act responsibly in accordance with his powers provided by the constitution.

“Not everyone can order the speaker to do something that is outside of the rules.

“Secondly, it is the right of the MPS to determine the number of support through the necessary procedures, therefore it has to be done during a sitting.

“Any figure given by the Speaker of the House without a voting process in the house is hypothetical, speculative and inconclusive and can be challenged,” said the Umno MP who pledged allegiance to the prime minister

Yesterday, Malaysiakini reported that Istana Negara sent a letter to the speaker requesting the number of MPs who supported the prime minister.

Sources confirmed the authenticity of the letter, however the palace and Azhar have yet to provide a response.

Subsequently, Umno Youth lodged a police report yesterday over another letter, purportedly written by Azhar, notifying the palace that Muhyiddin had the support of 100 MPs.

Azhar also did not respond to that claim when contacted by Malaysiakini yesterday.

Meanwhile, Annuar, who is Ketereh MP, said Muhyiddin’s position could be confirmed through a vote of confidence in the Dewan Rakyat.

“In such a specific vote, it is not impossible that the PM does not get full votes from the government bloc and it is not impossible that the PM can also get votes from the opposition.

“Let it not be forgotten the possibility of absences (of MPs during the vote) or attendance but not voting,” he said.

Annuar said all parties should be patient while waiting for the vote of confidence process which is “constitutional and in line with parliamentary democracy.” - Mkini