IT IS “unnecessary” and a “waste of time” for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to table a motion for a vote of confidence when the 15th Parliament convenes for its first sitting on Dec 19, 2022, as it is “clear now that he enjoys an overwhelming majority in excess of 140 seats”.
Incoming Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh added it is likely that the unity government which the Pakatan Harapan (PH) chief heads has a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
Historically, Ramkarpal said in a statement today, the requirement to have such votes of confidence has been guided by constitutional conventions, which is the case in the UK and other Commonwealth countries.
“(Former UK PM) Boris Johnson survived a vote of confidence in June 2022 by securing a majority of only 59% of MPs from his party for him to remain their leader, while (his predecessor) Theresa May fared better by securing 63% in 2018,” the DAP legal bureau chairman noted.
“In both cases, it was clear that Johnson and May did not have comfortable majorities, and as such, there was a need to test their support by such confidence motions,” he explained.
No doubt a vote of confidence ought to be encouraged when there are doubts as to whether a government has the majority in Parliament, Ramkarpal carried on – like when Perikatan Nasional (PN) came into power after the Sheraton Move of 2020, for example.
“In that instance, (then-prime minister Tan Sri) Muhyiddin Yassin ought to have done so as it was unclear if he had the support of at least 112 MPs, and his failure to do so rightly drew considerable criticism in the circumstances.”
Ramkarpal added that it was understandable for Anwar to have announced his intention to table a motion of confidence as it was made before Muhyiddin, who was Anwar’s sole contender for the country’s top office post Saturday’s polls (Nov 19), conceded yesterday (Nov 25) that PH had the numbers.
“However, with Muhyiddin’s said concession and confirmation that PN will provide a check and balance to the government by being in the opposition, the need for a vote of confidence by PH does not arise,” Ramkarpal claimed.
He added that it would be “better to focus on the Budget” and prepare thoroughly for the same in the upcoming parliamentary sitting, instead of “wasting time” on a vote of confidence “which serves no purpose now”. – Nov 26, 2022
