UMNO veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah announced that he would not participate in the Budget 2021 debate at the Dewan Rakyat until Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s majority command is put to test.
In a letter addressed to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan dated Nov 19, which went viral over social media, Razaleigh said it was important to establish the legitimacy of the current Government before debating national issues.
“As the legitimacy of the Government has yet to be decided, I’m bound by my conscience on the oath I have taken and, therefore cannot participate in the debate on the budget,” he said.
Tengku Razaleigh, popularly known as Ku Li, is one of the many MPs who have submitted several motions of no-confidence against Muhyiddin at the Dewan Rakyat.
Muhyiddin, who is only holding a two-seat majority at the august house, is facing massive pressure from various parties, including his allies, to determine his legitimacy to helm the Government.
Hence, many MPs are attempting to vote down Budget 2021, which by convention under the Westminster parliamentary system is vote of no confidence against the Government.
Such a move may trigger a new Prime Minister being sworn in or snap polls.
To date, Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah), which has 11 MPs, had announced that they will not support Budget 2021.
Defending his decision, Tengku Razaleigh said that Article 43 of the Federal Constitution clearly states that the sitting premier must obtain majority support from the Dewan Rakyat to hold the coveted post.
“But you (Azhar) labelled my motion as ‘usul persendirian’ (Private Member’s Bill), which I beg to differ.
“A constitutional issue as fundamental as the pre-condition of the legitimacy of the prime minister, as required by the Constitution, is not an issue of ‘usul persendirian’.
“It goes to the heart of the Constitution and the legitimacy of the prime minister,” he said.
Don’t perpetuate ‘political corruption’
The Gua Musang MP also disagreed with Azhar’s suggestion for the former to seek the de facto Law Minister Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan’s approval to table the motion.
“I disagree with your reasoning. The law minister has no role whatsoever in determining whether a vote of confidence at the Dewan Rakyat can be tabled.
“To suggest that such an important issue is subject to the agreement of the law minister in unconstitutional and a serious breach of the autonomy and independence of the Dewan Rakyat from any form of control by the Executive.
“The Dewan Rakyat is an autonomous and independent institution outside the control of the Executive of any other authority.
“It is only in this way that it can genuinely represent the people as intended by the Constitution,” said the former finance minister.
Tengku Razaleigh said that the Parliament would only perpetuate “political corruption’ if the legitimacy of the current Government was not put to test.
“It is my considered view that ‘political corruption’ by its very nature can be described as the ‘worm in the bud’ that will destroy our constitutional system of democracy from within,” he said.
Tengku Razaleigh added, “The opinion in the public domain is that ‘political corruption’ and money is destroying the soul of our nation and the political system.” – Nov, 23, 2020.
