DATUK Razali Idris said Bersatu has no plans to table a motion of confidence against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the upcoming Dewan Rakyat meeting on May 22.
The party information chief said the recent rumour that the opposition had the numbers to challenge Anwar was just mere gossip and was not a statement made by the leadership or party chiefs.
“It would be difficult to unseat Anwar who has the majority support with 148 MPs. Even opposition chief whip (Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin) never said this,” he told Berita Harian when contacted yesterday (May 7).
“Why is Anwar thinking about rumours or small gossip out there? He shouldn’t be thinking about what numbers the other side has, because his government is stable enough with 148 seats.
“But that issue of numbers is just coffee shop talk, and those who say it are not leaders, senior party leaders or party chiefs, just regular people.”
Razali also suggested that Anwar conduct a vote of confidence in Parliament should he believe his leadership to be under jeopardy.
“If Anwar is afraid of his own shadow, then he should call for a vote of confidence each time Parliament meets,” he added.
Dewan Rakyat speaker Datuk Johari Abdul confirmed on Friday (May 5) that no MP had submitted a request to table a motion of confidence in the upcoming meeting.
Any MP may still file an emergency motion for a vote of confidence during the meeting, but the Speaker will make the decision whether to allow it.
When the Dewan Rakyat assembled for the first time following the 15th General Election (GE15) on December 19 last year, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof tabled a resolution on a vote of confidence for Anwar.
Anwar, who has a two-thirds majority among the 222-member Dewan Rakyat, won the motion by voice vote.
Rumours of alleged plots to topple the unity government had not abated since Pakatan Harapan formed an alliance with Barisan Nasional (BN) to form the federal government after GE15.
Five months later, fresh rumours resurfaced involving alleged attempts to force by-elections in BN-held seats with the elected representatives quitting their parties.
Most recently, Bersatu Supreme Council leader Dr Muhammad Faiz Na’aman sent the rumour mill into overdrive when he claimed on Facebook that they “had 126” although he declined to clarify his statement. – May 8, 2023
