Anwar wins confidence vote in Dewan Rakyat

 

Anwar Ibrahim had pledged to table a motion of confidence in the Dewan Rakyat to prove his majority in Parliament. (PMO pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has won the vote of confidence in the Dewan Rakyat.

It was passed through a voice vote while the opposition did not call for a bloc vote.

Earlier, the motion was tabled by deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof.

After being appointed to the top post following the 15th general election (GE15), Anwar had pledged to table a motion of confidence in the Dewan Rakyat to prove his majority in Parliament.

The motion was debated by 12 MPs from the government and opposition blocs, with some questioning the constitutionality of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by parties in the unity government as well as the rationale of having a vote of confidence.

The MPs who debated the motion included opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin (PN-Larut), Lim Guan Eng (PH-Bagan), Rafizi Ramli (PH-Pandan), Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu), Johari Ghani (BN-Titiwangsa), and Jeffrey Kitingan (GRS-Keningau).

In a Facebook post, home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail pointed out that the opposition had now lost a third vote in the Dewan Rakyat, after failing to pass its nominees for the posts of Dewan Rakyat Speaker and deputy speakers.

Former Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul was elected the new Dewan Rakyat Speaker earlier today after being nominated by Anwar. He received 147 votes while the opposition’s candidate, Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, obtained 74 votes.

One MP, Hanifah Hajar Taib (GPS-Mukah), was absent.

Ramli Nor (BN-Cameron Highlands) and Alice Lau (PH-Lanang) were then elected the new deputy speakers. They received 148 and 146 votes, respectively.

The opposition’s candidate, Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, only received 74 votes. - FMT