The Malaysian Insight

PRIME Minister Muhyiddin Yassin must be courageous like former Perak menteri besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu and allow for a vote of no confidence in Dewan Rakyat, said Amanah vice-president Mahfuz Omar.

Mahfuz said what had happened in Perak was a democratic process that is enshrined in the federal constitution.

“Faizal was bold (in his decision). Even though he knew there was a confidence vote against him, he allowed the speaker to go through with it.

“This is the true masculinity of a political leader who has the courage to face those who were trying to topple him,” Mahfuz told Insight Talk.

Last week, Faizal lost a vote of confidence in the Perak assembly and had to quit as menteri besar.

Forty-eight assemblymen voted against him in the 59-seat legislature, while 10 voted for him. There was one spoilt vote.

The confidence motion against Faizal, who is Chenderiang assemblyman, was filed by Umno’s Pengkalan Baru assemblyman Abdul Manap Hashim last month.

Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun had said yesterday he was “powerless” to allow a confidence vote against Muhyiddin, adding he must get an indication from a government minister to allow such a motion.

Azhar said he was not bound to follow precedents set by other speakers when asked why he could not follow Perak speaker Zahir Abdul Khalid’s example in the state assembly last Friday.

Since May, Pakatan Harapan had filed 25 motions of no confidence against Muhyiddin in Parliament.

Azhar, however, had also previously said he cannot push the motion up the order paper as there were more pressing government bills to deal with.

Mahfuz said that Faizal’s open-mindedness and bravery should be emulated by Muhyiddin.

“Faisal had agreed to the confidence motion vote (and lost). He had accepted his fate with an open heart,” he said.

“This process should become a motivator for Muhyiddin to also show his boldness as the prime minister to allow for a vote of no confidence that has been listed in order paper in the Dewan Rakyat.”

The Amanah vice-president added that any minister can get permission from Muhyiddin to call for a confidence vote.

“The people are also waiting to know Muhyiddin’s standing as prime minister.

“If no (motion is allowed) then there will be questions if Muhyiddin is man enough to allow it.”

Mahfuz said Muhyiddin must be tested with the vote of confidence to see if he still has the support of MPs.

“We want the speaker to give way for the vote of no confidence to be allowed.

“That is why it is important that a minister stand up and ask for the motion.”

In October, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s party, Pejuang, had also filed a motion of no confidence against Muhyiddin, citing he had lost the confidence of the house.

This is the former prime minister’s second motion after his first one in May did not see the light of day in Dewan Rakyat.

Opposition lawmakers said their motions should be allowed under section 26(1) read together with section 27(3) of the Standing Orders.

However, Dr Mahathir’s bid to table a no-confidence vote against Muhyiddin was rejected twice as they were placed at the end of the order paper. – December 9, 2020.