[UPDATED] Govt’s legitimacy intact even with PN ministers’ letter to king: PM

KUALA LUMPUR – The government’s legitimacy is still intact despite a letter by 12 ministers from Perikatan Nasional (PN) parties objecting to the dissolution of Parliament in the remaining months of the year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today.

The letter, signed by ministers from Bersatu and PAS, does not signify a loss of confidence in his leadership, he added.

“They only penned a letter objecting to the dissolution of Parliament (this year) and mentioned nothing about resigning, and that the power to dissolve Parliament is within the jurisdiction of the prime minister and the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.

“So, the issue of the government’s legitimacy does not arise, as support from members of the Dewan Rakyat is still intact,” Ismail Sabri told the press after attending the national-level Maulidur Rasul celebration at the World Trade Centre here.

He added that a loss of confidence in the prime minister can only be triggered if MPs formally withdraw their support for him, in accordance with the federal constitution.

“Many of those who do not understand the constitution are simply talking without (the proper context) of the constitution.

“If members of the Dewan Rakyat withdraw support, less than 114 or a simple majority, then the government will collapse as what had happened with Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin,” he said, referring to his predecessor who heads Bersatu and the PN coalition.

“That is why the entire cabinet then had to resign but if there is no issue of MPs withdrawing their support leading to the collapse of the government, then there is no issue,” Ismail Sabri added.

The Vibes had previously reported that all 12 PN cabinet members had submitted a letter to the king expressing their objection over the proposed holding of the 15th general election (GE15) amid the monsoon season. Of the 12 PN ministers, 10 are MPs, while two are senators.

Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan had called the letter “inappropriate” and an indication that there is a loss of confidence in Ismail Sabri, whom Umno is pressuring to hold early polls.

Some political observers also hold the view that the ministers who penned the letter to the king should resign.

With the exception of Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, politicians have either voiced agreement that GE15 not be held this year to avoid the floods or made no comment on the matter given the fractured political landscape between Umno, Bersatu, and PAS.

A PAS leader and one who signed the letter, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Idris Ahmad, told reporters on the sidelines of the Maulidur Rasul event today that the PN component party still supported Ismail Sabri as prime minister.

Ismail Sabri also sidestepped questions on whether Parliament would be dissolved before Budget 2023, tabled last Friday, is passed.

“I fear anything I say at the moment would just be speculation, so just wait,” he said. – The Vibes, October 9, 2022