More than 16 no-confidence motions submitted: Art Harun

KUALA LUMPUR – More than 16 no-confidence motions against embattled Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin have been submitted by parliamentarians to date. 

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun was quoted by Utusan Malaysia daily as saying that all the motions were being scrutinised for inclusion in the Order Paper. 

He also acknowledged receiving confidence motions from government backbenchers for Muhyiddin, but said government bills would take priority when the House reconvenes on November 2. 

“We have received more than 16 motions of no confidence from parliamentarians and have listed them (in the Order Paper). 

“(However), there are other important motions we have received, aside from Budget 2021. We will arrange them, putting government business first,’ he was quoted as saying. 

“We also did receive motions of confidence for the prime minister. They were from government MPs, but we must wait until more important motions from ministries are included in the agenda.” 

Rule 15 of the Dewan Rakyat Standing Orders stipulates that government business shall have precedence over private members’ business and will be arranged in the Order Paper as the government sees fit. 

However, a private members’ motion can be given precedence over all other businesses if moved by a minister. 

Muhyiddin’s position as prime minister came into question after opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim claimed to enjoy the majority support of the Dewan Rakyat last month. 

Anwar had also met the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to prove his claims earlier this month. 

Last Friday, Muhyiddin met the Agong to seek an emergency rule after his proposal was approved by the cabinet.

But on Sunday, the Agong subsequently rejected his bid following discussions with the Conference of Rulers. 

While the government had claimed the proposal for emergency was to address the spike in Covid-19 cases, critics argued that the move was nothing more than an attempt to stay in power, by avoiding a possible no-confidence motion in Dewan Rakyat. – The Vibes, October 28, 2020