Formalise procedures for confidence motions, say activists

 

Calls for a fixed-term Parliament arose in the wake of three changes of government since the 2018 general election. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The proposed Fixed-term Parliament Act (FTPA) must be accompanied by amendments to the Dewan Rakyat’s Standing Orders to formalise the procedures for confidence motions, say activists.

Currently, the Dewan Rakyat’s Standing Orders make no mention of confidence motions.

Projek SAMA, an initiative advocating institutional reforms, said the amendment should serve as the “confirmatory vote of confidence” (CVC) for every newly-appointed prime minister under Article 43(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution.

Article 43(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution states that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall appoint as prime minister a member of the Dewan Rakyat who in his judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the MPs.

“This (amendment) would enhance the legitimacy of the prime minister and affirm both parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy,” said Projek SAMA in a statement.

It added that both the FTPA and the CVC should be followed by other reforms such as a tenure limit for prime minister, a Parliamentary Services Act (PSA), and the recognition of a shadow Cabinet.

It also called for more parliamentary committees and non-governmental business time in parliamentary sittings, as well as equal constituency development fund (CDF) laws.

Projek SAMA also said the proposed amendment must be accompanied by a political financing law with public funding for political parties, institutional separation of the public prosecutor from the attorney-general, and an independent Election Commission (EC) accountable to Parliament.

Calls for a fixed-term Parliament arose in the wake of three changes of government since the 2018 general election.

In February 2020, the so-called “Sheraton Move” led to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, following the exit of several MPs from PKR and Bersatu, then a PH partner.

The suggestion received mixed reviews from both sides, as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim earlier today played down a proposal for a FTPA, saying it is not a priority. - FMT