ACCORDING to the Constitution, there is no need for a confidence vote in Parliament to prove Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s majority, said Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali.
The former attorney-general (AG) told Malay-language daily Utusan Malaysia that the PM’s position in Dewan Rakyat is legitimate after gaining the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s confidence.
He further pointed out that Article 43(2) of the Federal Constitution has proven that this is a non-issue.
According to Article 43(2)(a) the prime minister must be an MP (member of Parliament) who in the judgment of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, is “likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the (lower) House”.
“However, the validity needs to be determined in Parliament this time following His Majesty’s order that the PM submit a motion in the Dewan Rakyat to determine the validity of his position,” Apandi said.
He explained that in terms of the Constitution, this is not necessary and that the prime minister’s position is valid.
On Aug 18, Agong issued a reminder to the person who will be appointed to undergo a confidence vote in the Dewan Rakyat once it is confirmed.
In a statement on behalf of the Agong, Comptroller of the Royal Household Datuk Indera Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin previously said the confidence vote has to be undertaken as it is the proper Constitutional thing to do to gain legitimacy.
Ismail Sabri was sworn in as the nineth Malaysian PM last Saturday after gaining 114 votes from federal lawmakers. – Aug 24, 2021.
