GEORGE TOWN: A DAP lawmaker says it is unnecessary for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to table a motion of confidence when Parliament reconvenes on Dec 19, as it is clear now that he enjoys a majority in excess of 140.
In a Facebook posting, Bukit Gelugor's Ramkarpal Singh said it is likely that the government has, in fact, a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
He said the need for a vote of confidence is guided by constitutional convention, which is also the case in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries.
Former UK prime minister Boris Johnson survived a vote of confidence in June 2022, as did Theresa May in 2018.
Ramkarpal said it was clear both did not have comfortable majorities, and as such, there was a need to test their support.
"No doubt, a vote of confidence ought to be encouraged when there are doubts as to whether a government has the majority in Parliament, for instance when Perikatan Nasional (PN) came into power after the Sheraton move.
"In that instance, 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.
"It is understandable for Anwar to have announced his intention to table a motion of confidence as it was made before Muhyiddin conceded that PH (Pakatan Harapan) had the numbers yesterday.
"With Muhyiddin's concession and confirmation that PN will provide checks and balances by being in the opposition, the need for a vote of confidence does not arise," Ramkarpal said.
He said it would be better to prepare thoroughly for the presentation of the Budget in the upcoming parliamentary sitting.
On Thursday, Anwar had said he would test his "majority support" in the Dewan Rakyat on Dec 19 through a vote of confidence.
This came after the PN chairman, Muhyiddin, questioned the legitimacy of Anwar's claim of having the support of the majority of lawmakers.