Iskandar Puteri MP Lim Kit Siang has cast doubt on the rationale behind the government not wanting to put up a motion of confidence against Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
The DAP veteran compared the reason cited by de facto Law Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and the statement by Attorney-General Idrus Harun on the confidence vote.
"If the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had changed his mind and consented not to have a confidence motion as claimed by Wan Junaidi, then why was it not stated right from the very beginning instead of the most bizarre statement by Idrus arguing the most ridiculous point that a vote of confidence would undermine the king's powers to appoint a premier in accordance with the Federal Constitution?" Lim asked in a statement today.
Yesterday, Wan Junaidi stated that the Agong had consented not to have a confidence vote in Parliament.
According to him, this was conveyed during the weekly cabinet meeting.
The ruler had previously decreed that the new prime minister must seek a vote of confidence as soon as possible.
Wan Junaidi said the king appointed Ismail Sabri as premier after he secured support from 114 MPs.
"Every MP met with the Agong, and I do not think that in such a short time they would change their position. If it's been six or seven months, then they may change their mind.
"It's unlikely for a change to happen in such a short time. Based on this, His Majesty had consented not to have one - there is no longer a need to hold a confidence vote," he told journalists in Putrajaya yesterday.
On Sept 4, Idrus said there was no need for a vote of confidence because it would undermine the Agong’s constitutional powers.
Ismail Sabri's support in the Dewan Rakyat is fragile due to internal Umno tensions with party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's faction.
Pakatan Harapan chairperson Anwar Ibrahim had assured that the opposition coalition would not complicate matters during a vote of confidence if the prime minister's policies are pro-rakyat.
Parliament is set to convene on Sept 13.
Elaborating further, Lim said the only reason the government is shunning the confidence motion was that Ismail Sabri feared he would not be able to secure the support of 114 MPs in the confidence vote.
"He can avoid a confidence motion but can he avoid votes in Parliament amounting to votes on his legitimacy as prime minister - whether on Sept 23 on the motion of thanks for the royal address, on Oct 7 on the 12th Malaysia Plan, the 2022 Budget or the various bills?
"Can we ensure an end to the political maelstrom and uncertainty in Parliament and a new-found unity of purpose to win the losing war against the Covid-19 pandemic to reset the country with parliamentary and institutional reforms for economic and national recovery for the next 12 to 18 months until the next general election?"
The DAP stalwart added that the possible confidence-supply-reform agreement between the government and the opposition suffered a grievous blow as the government decided not to put up a motion of confidence in the upcoming Dewan Rakyat sitting. - Mkini
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