Opinion

Give MPs strict deadline to choose new PM – Tindak!

If they fail, Agong should step in to appoint interim governing body to lead nation

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 15 Aug 2021 10:00AM

Give MPs strict deadline to choose new PM – Tindak!
As Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin loses his majority in Parliament, a vote of no confidence should be formally taken, and unless the prime minister survives this vote, he must tender his resignation immediately without delay. – Wikipedia pic, August 15, 2021

PELAN Bertindak Rakyat (Tindak!) was formed primarily to advocate more robust, urgent and science-based action to tackle the Covid-19 crisis. 

Such action is not possible without robust, legitimate, and principled leadership. 

Our position on recent political developments are as follows:

It is now clear that Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has lost his majority in Parliament. 

The prime minister argued that he should be allowed to lead a minority government because no other MP is currently able to command a majority. 

We feel that especially in light of the current government's failure to stop the Covid-19 cases and deaths from increasing at an alarming rate, this is not a viable solution. 

The proper way forward is for Parliament to convene immediately this coming week in line with constitutional due process. 

A vote of no confidence should then be formally taken, and unless the prime minister survives this vote, he must tender his resignation immediately without delay. MPs should then coalesce around a new candidate for prime minister with the greatest of haste. 

This will produce continuity in our democratic process and avoid setting any controversial constitutional precedents. 

To ensure that Malaysia is not stuck in, and distracted by an unproductive, protracted, and inconclusive political quagmire for an indefinite period, we propose that MPs be given a strict deadline to choose a new prime minister. 

Should MPs fail to choose a prime minister by this deadline, we recommend that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong step in as constitutional monarch to appoint an interim governing body (IGB) to lead the country. 

This IGB should be led by public policy experts (not politicians), especially those in the field of public health, economics, and education. Members of civil society can also be included in the IGB, alongside elected representatives. 

The IGB should be given full decision-making powers at least over all matters related to the Covid-19 pandemic, and at the very least until one or more of the following conditions are met: 

1. Covid-19 statistics fall to a predetermined point. 

2. A convincing majority of MPs come to agree on a candidate for prime minister and the formation of a stable cabinet.

3. It is safe enough to hold a general election. 

We propose that MPs be given until August 20 to choose a new prime minister. Should they fail to do so by this date, we propose that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong exercise powers to form this IGB without delay, in order to protect Malaysians, and reverse the ever-increasing numbers of Covid-19 cases and deaths. – The Vibes, August 15, 2021

Tindak! Committee

Badlishah Sham - Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia / Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM)

Faisal Aziz - Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM)

Nathaniel Tan - Projek #BangsaMalaysia

Stanley Yong - Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM)

Grazele Jenarun - Projek Wawasan Rakyat (POWR)

S. Arutchelvan - Jaringan Rakyat Terindas (Jerit) / Jawatankuasa Marhain

Altaf Deviyati - Projek Wawasan Rakyat (POWR)

Tharma Pillai - Undi18

Mukmin Nantang - Borneo Komrad

Farhan Rosli - Persatuan Kebangsaan Pelajar Islam Malaysia (PKPIM)

Related News

Malaysia / 2w

Speaker reminds MPs not to skip parliamentary sessions

Malaysia / 2w

Hamzah back in the saddle as opposition leader after brief shake-up

Malaysia / 2w

Muhyiddin's seat in Dewan Rakyat moved to Block E

Malaysia / 4mth

‘I feel awkward sitting next to Hamzah’ – Muhyiddin

Malaysia / 4mth

Government drafting bill to address online gambling - Fadillah

Malaysia / 4mth

Azam Baki’s alleged shareholding issue should be debated in Parliament, says Guan Eng

Spotlight

Malaysia

Johor state election: MACC receives three reports of alleged corruption

Malaysia

Banks need to do more to help counter rising costs of living – Guan Eng

By Ian McIntyre

Business

BNM holds OPR at 2.75 per cent

Malaysia

MACC: No one off limits in probe into US$13 million luxury property deal

Malaysia

Govt rejects claims Jho Low secretly returned to Malaysia for 1MDB asset talks

Malaysia

School stabbing incident: Suspect claimed she was dissatisfied, allegedly bullied

Places

Four premier hotels in Penang to be restored, open doors soon

By Ian McIntyre

Malaysia

Rosmah demands action against Nga over alleged misleading election poster in Johor polls

Malaysia

Malaysia faces RM51.4b 1MDB burden after recovering RM31.3b in funds and assets

You may be interested

Opinion

Stronger political will needed as drug abuse threatens national security and youth future