There’s still time to file confidence motion, Speaker tells PN

 

Johari Abdul, the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, said a decision on a confidence motion would be based on Standing Orders. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: There is still time for the opposition to file a no-confidence motion against the prime minister, the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, Johari Abdul, said today.

So far, no such motion had been filed, he said, indirectly confirming a similar statement by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Johari said it would be up to the Speaker to decide whether to accept or reject such a motion but any decision would be based on Standing Orders and would not be carried out arbitrarily.

He urged MPs to “please read and understand the Standing Orders”.

Earlier this morning, PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari told FMT that there was no guarantee that Johari would allow a no-confidence motion to be tabled, citing past experiences.

Fadhli said that several motions from PN were rejected outright last year, including one on deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s court case.

Opposition politicians had claimed in recent weeks that Anwar’s government was on the verge of collapse through a loss of support, and had been challenged to test their support through a confidence motion.

Johari said Perikatan Nasional could still file a no-confidence motion before the next parliamentary sitting begins next month.

“Any MP can file the motion now. However, it is up to the Speaker to reject or approve it, a decision which would be announced when the lower house convenes,” Sinar Harian quoted him as saying.

He said the decision on whether to accept a motion would be based on the Standing Orders.

“If it meets the requirements, I will consider it. But one must understand that I am bound by the rules and cannot make decisions arbitrarily,” he said.

He said there was nothing to stop MPs from filing a motion that was similar to ones filed previously.

On Thursday, Anwar said PN had not filed a no-confidence motion against him despite multiple claims that the unity government was on the verge of collapse.

Last year he said he had no qualms if the opposition wanted to table such a motion against him, adding that he would even shorten the notice period. - FMT