Since Parliament reconvened back in July, many have looked at the possibility of the motion of no-confidence against the Prime Minister being heard in after the motion was passed to be debated on the Dewan Rakyat floor by former Speaker, Tan Sri Dato Mohamad Ariff bin Md Yusof.
However, as we all know, Mohammad Ariff was subsequently replaced before the motion went down the pecking order and wasn’t debated. Fast forward a few months and the motion of no-confidence surfaces again as many Member of Parliaments have already filed for it to be heard in Dewan Rakyat. This include from former Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir and all of the MPs in his Pejuang party, MPs from Amanah and even from one government MP, Tengku Razaleigh.
However, Dewan Rakyat Speaker, Datuk Azhar Harun has come out and say that any motion of no-confidence against Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin would not be a priority and can only be expedited if it was filed by a sitting minister.
As reported by NST, Azhar Harun explained that the priority of motions in Dewan Rakyat are motions regarding government business as prescribed by Standing Order 14(2) of the lower house of Parliament. Therefore, it is natural for a motion that is not in regards to government business to be push down the pecking order and possibly never be debated in Dewan Rakyat.
The former Election Commission Chief further iterate that putting a no-confidence motion before any government business in Parliament is simply against the law. Azhar asserted,
“A no-confidence motion will not receive the same treatment as other government motions based on the order that has been determined unless the minister wants to speed it up.”
Dewan rakyat spekar, datuk azhar harun
Therefore, the only way for such a motion is to be prioritised in Parliament is if a Minister were to file for it. As things look now, that’s just something that is unlikely to happen, given the priority at this time should be for Dewan Rakyat to expedite any motions in regards to Covid-19.
What do you guys think of the current political situation in Malaysia? Should a no-confidence motion be heard against our Prime Minister? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
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