KUALA LUMPUR: There is no need to rush the motion for a vote of no-confidence against Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at the Dewan Rakyat since there is no proof he has lost majority support as the prime minister.
Although there are 25 motions of confidence and two motions of no confidence against the Pagoh member of Parliament, the House was today told the proceedings were also subject to Regulations 14 and 15 of the Dewan Rakyat's Standing Orders.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said Regulation 15 (1) of the Standing Orders stated that Government business shall have precedence over Private Members' business in every sitting.
"Since there is nothing to proof Pagoh (Muhyiddin) has lost the confidence (as the prime minister) and after taking into consideration the interest of the public, the government is of the view that any motion of no-confidence and confidence involving a person should not be rushed by the Dewan Rakyat," Takiyuddin said during the Minister's Question Time (MQT).
He was responding to a question from Hassan Abdul Karim (Pakatan Harapan - Pasir Gudang) who asked to state when motions of no-confidence and confidence against the prime minister would be tabled, debated and voted in the Dewan Rakyat.
The 2021 Budget with a generous allocation of RM322.5 billion that was passed at the policy stage on Dec 26, said Takiyuddin, put to rest claims by the opposition that Muhyiddin had lost majority support from members of Parliament.
"The opposition (lawmakers) had said that if the Supply (Budget) Bill 2021 or the 2021 Budget was not approved, it will reflect that the prime minister had lost the confidence among the majority (of the MPs).
"However, as we all know, the 2021 Budget was approved (at the policy stage) on Nov 26 unanimously with only a few MPs abstaining.
"This has been reflected in the record of the Dewan Rakyat sitting. Hence, there is no question that Pagoh has lost the majority support or had a reduction in support (from the MPs)," he said.
Takiyuddin also highlighted the incident where Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (PH – Port Dickson) had claimed that the later commanded enough support to topple the present Perikatan Nasional government and become the next Prime Minister.
He said Anwar, however, did not manage to provide substantial evidence to prove that he had the majority support to become the prime minister when the latter was granted an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah on Oct 13.
"I'd like to ask permission from the House to read the statement issued by Istana Negara, which stated that, during the meeting that lasted for 25 minutes, Anwar had only presented the total number of MPs who had supported him.
"He, however, did not present the list of names of MPs who pledged their support to him," he said.
Takiyuddin said the present government upholds the principle of democracy and welcomes any person if he can prove to have the majority support to become the prime minister.
"This government is very open in the event that any of the MPs can present statutory declarations to prove they have the support of more 112 MPs to become the prime minister to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
"We will adhere to the process of democracy as upheld in the country," he said.