KUALA LUMPUR – PAS has backed Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob by saying that a confidence vote against the prime minister is not necessary.
The Islamist party’s vice-president Idris Ahmad said this was based on provisions in the federal constitution which stipulates that the appointment of the prime minister fell under the purview of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
According to Sinar Harian, Idris said legal experts have also agreed to this reasoning, therefore a vote of confidence in the next parliamentary sitting was not needed.
"When the power to appoint the prime minister is the absolute power of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, then there should be no need for a vote of confidence. My position should be in accordance with that,” Idris was quoted as saying.
Idris said this to reporters after handing out assistance to flood victims at a community hall in Matang Gelugor in Taiping, Perak here this afternoon.
The upcoming parliamentary sitting, which falls in the fourth term of the 14th session of Parliament, is being held between September 13 and October 12, but no such motion of confidence is scheduled in the Order Paper for the Dewan Rakyat when it reconvenes.
Earlier, Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun asserted that there is no need to legitimise Ismail Sabri’s appointment as it has been done according to the law.
Idrus’ statement had shocked the Pakatan Harapan (PH) presidential council, which reminded him that the king had decreed that a vote of confidence must be held for the new prime minister.
The opposition insisted that the Agong’s decree on August 18 clearly stated the appointed prime minister must put forth a vote of confidence as soon as possible.
The PH leadership also pointed out that Idrus himself was present during the audience with the Agong in which His Majesty had decreed for the confidence motion.
The council said this is not the first time that a confidence motion would be held in Parliament after a new prime minister is appointed.
Yesterday, Idrus said the federal constitution empowers the king to appoint a prime minister from among Dewan Rakyat members whom His Majesty believes has majority support.
On August 18, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had decreed that the newly appointed prime minister must immediately test his legitimacy of majority support among Dewan Rakyat members by tabling a vote of confidence in the august House.
Ismail Sabri took his oath of office on August 21.
The PH council also said that this is the second time Idrus has gone against the decree of the king and urged him to resign.
This is likely in reference to Istana Negara’s statement on July 29 reprimanding the government for its application to revoke the emergency ordinances, backdated to July 21. – The Vibes, September 5, 2021
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