[UPDATED] Confidence vote set for Sept 7: Saifuddin

KUALA LUMPUR – The vote of confidence to determine Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s legitimacy is scheduled for September 7 when Parliament reconvenes next month, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah. 

Saifuddin said today in a virtual press conference that Dewan Rakyat secretary Nizam Mydin Bacha Mydin had sent out the notice to all MPs.

The first meeting of the Fourth Session of the 14th Parliamentary sitting will convene on September 6, lasting 15 days.

Saifuddin, who is also Indera Mahkota MP, dismissed rumours that there are plans for the confidence vote to be held at a special Parliament sitting on August 18.

“In politics, anything is possible. The prime minister took note of the importance of the confidence vote and understood that there are people who want this vote to be organised earlier than September 7.

“However, the official date is set for September 7,” he said in the presser.

He added that the motion of confidence will be tabled by the government either by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, or another minister who will be assigned by the cabinet.

“It will be moved by the government. We are still discussing how it should be done.

“There is a possibility the prime minister may speak (before the voting commences), but the actual motion may be brought by the deputy prime minister or another minister assigned by the cabinet,” he added.

Previously, MPs had called for the motion to be tabled before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s opening speech on the first day of the Parliament sitting.

Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan is of the view that it is unsuitable to have a no-confidence vote in Parliament right after the Agong’s opening speech. – The Vibes, August 12, 2021