KUALA LUMPUR – Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim has questioned the validity of Law Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar’s statement that the king has informed Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob that his legitimacy as prime minister need not be tested when the Dewan Rakyat convenes this month.
In a statement today, Hassan said such statements would not be accepted in the courts as they would be deemed hearsay.
“His statement is based on hearsay, because Wan Junaidi did not hear it directly from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Instead, he heard it from Ismail Sabri.
“It is a conflict of interest for Ismail Sabri in terms of the confidence vote in the Dewan Rakyat, because it involves support for him to continue as prime minister.”
He said the Agong, in a statement issued by Istana Negara on August 18, stated the need for a confidence vote to take place as soon as possible.
As such, if the Agong has a new decree on the same matter, it should be made in writing and informed to the public via an official statement by Istana Negara, and not through the prime minister or Wan Junaidi.
“The good name of the Agong must be preserved by the prime minister.
“Ismail Sabri as prime minister might be comfortable making a U-turn. He could say something today, and something else another day.
“The people can punish him via social media or in the next elections. But it will jeopardise the royal institution if the king is seen by the people to be making a U-turn (on the decree).”
As such, Hassan called on the government to push for a motion on a confidence vote to be tabled when the Dewan Rakyat sits.
“The motion of confidence in the Dewan Rakyat is something that fulfils the convention and stipulations contained in the federal constitution.”
His response comes after Wan Junaidi today said the Agong has decided that there is no need for a confidence vote to be held as His Majesty is confident Bera MP Ismail Sabri enjoys majority support in the Dewan Rakyat. – The Vibes, September 7, 2021
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