GEORGE TOWN – The longest serving parliamentarian wants newly minted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to hold a confidence referendum in Dewan Rakyat now instead of waiting until September 6.
Gua Musang MP Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said it is imperative that Ismail Sabri moves to demonstrate that he rightfully has the 114-majority as what was recently presented to the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.
Even though Ismail Sabri has been accorded his appointment letter and had undergone the swearing-in ceremony on Saturday, the entire process is symbolic in nature, said Tengku Razaleigh in an interview.
Tengku Razaleigh, who lost out on the premiership despite earlier reports that he, too, was nominated by some leaders in Umno, said that once the confidence motion is settled, the prime minister should be able to focus on his duties with no distractions.
“If the confidence vote cannot materialise, then the cabinet and prime minister need to make way because they could not command the majority in Dewan Rakyat.”
Tengku Razaleigh, affectionately known as Ku Li, said the Bera MP was appointed under Article 40(2) and Article 43(2)(a) of the federal constitution after his successor Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin lost his majority in Parliament.
Meanwhile, Ku Li’s aides said the “Kelantan Prince” will continue to offer himself as an alternative leader as long as he holds the Gua Musang seat.
The compulsion of retiring has not materialised as the Umno veteran thinks he can offer an alternative way of leading the country when compared with the present leadership, the aide said.
Muhyiddin was forced to step down after 15 Umno MPs formally withdrew support for him, paving the way for Ismail Sabri, who was then the Pagoh lawmaker’s deputy, to assume Malaysia’s highest political seat.
After a few days of political negotiating and deal-brokering, the Umno vice-president managed to garner a simple majority – amassing 114 votes after Barisan Nasional, Bersatu, PAS, Gabungan Parti Sarawak and a few Sabah parties vouched for him. – The Vibes, August 23, 2021
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