KUALA LUMPUR – Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin would not have allowed a confidence vote to be tabled in Parliament next month if he is not convinced that he has the majority, according to an Umno lawmaker aligned to the prime minister.
Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman said while there has been much chatter about Muhyiddin losing the support of the majority of the Dewan Rakyat, this cannot be proven until the House sits for a vote.
“If he is not confident, then why have a confidence vote? Why must he talk about it if he is not sure,” he told The Vibes today.
As such, he said all quarters should remain patient and wait until the prime minister’s legitimacy is tested before passing judgment.
When pointed out that 14 Umno MPs have withdrawn their support for Muhyiddin, as per statutory declarations (SDs) submitted to the Istana Negara, Tajuddin said this does not reflect the final number.
“You are only talking about what you can see (the SDs), but what you can’t see, that you don’t know. We will only know when D-Day comes. So, just wait.
“At the moment, you can’t just say that certain quarters are convinced Muhyiddin has lost his majority. Some of those who signed the SDs withdrawing their backing have also signed a separate document expressing support for the government.
“In politics, anything can happen. Those 14 Umno MPs might even come back. So, how do you interpret (the numbers)?”
On August 3, Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, accompanied by 10 party MPs, announced that the party’s Supreme Council has agreed to officially withdraw support for Muhyiddin and his government.
With mounting pressure for Muhyiddin to step down following the supposed loss of majority support, the prime minister announced the following day that he will put his legitimacy to the test in Parliament next month.
Later on Monday, Umno made public two letters it presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong notifying the king that 14 of its MPs have withdrawn their support for Muhyiddin, with accompanying SDs.
In a virtual press conference today, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah had said the vote of confidence is scheduled for September 7, based on the current Parliament’s order of business.
The House will convene on September 6 for the first meeting of the fourth term of the 14th Parliament, with the Agong also expected to give a royal address. – The Vibes, August 12, 2021
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