A HANDFUL of MPs, previously with Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, did not create any issue in conflict by reportedly telling the Yang di-Pertuan Agong that they no longer support the Government.
They should tell the Speaker if they have switched sides.
What I found strange was that the Opposition has jumped on the bandwagon as well and reportedly informed the Istana that they do not support the Government.
Generally, no one expects the Opposition anywhere in the world, as a bloc, to support the Government. Parliament remains the proper forum for Opposition lawmakers to vote against Bills.
According to Malaysiakini’s latest update on Aug 9, the Opposition does not form one solid bloc in Parliament.
Having said that, Sept 6 may be the fateful day that Muhyiddin either wins re-confirmation as Prime Minister or loses the most hotly-sought position in Malaysia to another lawmaker, perhaps a dark horse waiting in the wings for the tryst with destiny as Prime Minister-designate.
The Prime Minister announced on Aug 4 that he will put his parliamentary majority to the test in September via a motion of confidence. There is no reason why it should be a one-horse race.
Parliament can, by a show of hands on Sept 6, agree on simple rules on how the Prime Minister-designate, and his Deputy, may be chosen.
The rules apply to the Sept 6 confidence motion only and do not determine the selection of a future Prime Minister.
If we take some liberties on the confidence motion, the rules can be along the following lines provided there’s consensus:
- The Prime Minister-designate will set up a Government and Cabinet of lawmakers, not parties, given the hung Parliament since Mar 1 last year;
- The Cabinet must reflect the demography of the nation across both sides of the South China Sea;
- There will be at least three candidates in the fray for prime minister, but probably more in the numbers;
- Candidates must be proposed by an MP and seconded by another;
- Those facing charges in court are not eligible to be candidates;
- Voting will be by show of hands;
- No candidate can vote for himself or herself;
- The winner must get at least 51% of the votes from those present and counted;
- If no candidate gets 51% there will be run-off between the top two candidates;
- The candidates will be from at least two ethnic and two religious groups including atheists;
- One of the candidates will be a woman;
- One of the candidates in the fray will be from either Sabah or Sarawak;
- The candidate from the two Borneo territories must not be from an ethnic or religious group in Malaya already in the running for the Prime Minister’s post;
- The deputy prime minister-designate must not be from the same ethnic group and religion as the Prime Minister;
- The DPM-designate must be selected from among those who contested the PM’s post; and
- If the losing candidate in the run-off qualifies, he or she must be picked as the DPM-designate.
Malaysia follows the same parliamentary procedures as in India and the Commonwealth.
In passing an ordinary Bill, a simple majority of members present and voting is necessary. In the case of a Bill to amend the Constitution, a majority of the total membership of the House and a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting is required in each House of Parliament.
Parliament in Malaysia needs the quaint tradition of the quorum – 26 MPs in the lower House according to Parliamentary rules – to meet i.e. all 220 MPs need not be present. There are two vacancies.
Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reportedly wanted to table a motion of no confidence in early August.
However, the last day of an emergency five-day sitting of Parliament was called off after the Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah advised the PM that four virus cases had been found at the august House.
We know from the science that if Parliament House had been evacuated for four hours, any virus there would have died out.
The Speaker, by parliamentary convention in the Commonwealth, would prioritise a motion of no confidence tabled by the Opposition Leader. It would be a pyrrhic victory of sorts since Anwar does not have the numbers. – Aug 11, 2021.
Joe Fernandez is a long-time Borneo watcher and a regular FocusM contributor.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
