PARLIAMENT | Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah has indicated there have been "positive" developments since a record number of no-confidence motions were filed against Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
He dropped the hint when asked at a press conference if the motions will be brought to the floor of the present Dewan Rakyat sitting, which began today and is slated to end on Dec 15.
"I think there have been some positive changes at the time people were writing in with the no-confidence motions and what has happened in the past few days.
"I think people are more positive. Let's continue to be positive," he quipped while sidestepping the question.
Saifuddin did not elaborate on what these "positive changes" were.
He similarly expressed "positive vibes" when asked about the chances of Budget 2021 being passed, especially after Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz’s meetings with government and opposition parties.
"It's a different narrative altogether now. I think the language among MPs is different compared to maybe two weeks ago, I think people are talking about 'how are we going to go about doing it' rather than 'we are going to oppose it anyway'.
"It gives a lot of hope and I would like to think that everyone is thinking about the rakyat more than politics," he added.
At least 25 opposition MPs including Dr Mahathir Mohamad (Independent-Langkawi), Amirudin Hamzah (Independent-Kubang Pasu), Khalid Samad (Harapan-Shah Alam) and Hanipa Maidin (Harapan-Sepang) have filed no-confidence motions against Muhyiddin.
Meanwhile, two government backbenchers - Shahidan Kassim (BN-Arau) and Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh (PAS-Pasir Puteh) - have filed motions of confidence in support of the PM.
At present, it is unlikely that the House will debate any of these motions.
Under the Dewan Rakyat Standing Orders, government business is given priority during debates. This means bills for any new laws and amendments go first.
In the draft of the order paper sighted by Malaysiakini, the House is set to debate amendments to the Cooperatives Act, a bill to form an Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC) and amendments to the Poisons Act.
A bill to debate and pass Budget 2021 is expected to be added later. Putrajaya may add or withdraw other bills as well.
The Budget debate is scheduled to take place from Nov 9 to Dec 10. There were reportedly plans to vote down the Budget as an alternative to a no-confidence motion.
During today's sitting, de facto Parliament and Law Minister Takiyuddin Hassan informed the House on the need to shorten sittings, possibly for this week, to limit exposure to Covid-19.
The Health Ministry is slated to decide for how long the sessions will need to be shortened, and if this will affect Budget debates.
This came after “several” Dewan Negara staff members were revealed to have tested positive for Covid-19. - Mkini
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