Speaker accepts Dr M’s motion for no-confidence vote against Muhyiddin

KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 — Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusoff has accepted former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s proposed vote of no-confidence against Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Crucially, however, Mohamad Ariff’s statement published on Bernama’s Facebook did not specify when the motion will be tabled, suggesting that it might not emerge during the single-day May 18 meeting.

Mohamad Ariff’s statement also reiterated his rejection of Dr Mahathir’s separate motion for the former to remain as the Speaker until the current Parliament is dissolved.

“The motion under Rules of Meeting 27(3) has been accepted to be brought to the Dewan Rakyat session in the future,” wrote Muhammad Ariff.

Mohamad Ariff in his statement also included motions submitted by other parliamentarians, namely those from former minister and Batu Sapi MP Datuk Liew Vui Keong, and Sabah Chief Minister and Semporna MP Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

The statement explains that Liew had submitted four motions, the first to have a resolution made to demonstrate that Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin does not enjoy the support of the majority within the Dewan Rakyat, with the second motion out to prove that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is instead the  MP who commands the majority support of the Lower House.

Liew’s third motion pushes to establish that the one-day Parliamentary sitting scheduled on May 18 was against the Federal Constitution, with the fourth requesting that the upcoming sitting last at least eight days.

“After considering the motions based on the explanations provided, I have decided that parts of the motion are rejected with the reason they are not pressing matters, while there are parts (of the motion) that have been accepted due to its specific nature, is for the importance of the people and needs to immediately be ought to the Dewan Rakyat sitting in the future,” Mohamad Arif wrote.

As for the request from Mohd Shafie, the Speaker detailed the proposed motion which seeks to prove that Dr Mahathir commands the support of the majority of parliamentarians, with the attempt to push the proposition through the Parliament made to ensure that the general public and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong are informed on the matter. 

Shafie’s proposal was however rejected by Mohamad Ariff on the grounds that such a proposal was in conflict with Article 43 of the Federal Constitution.

After Mohamad Ariff’s statement, de facto law minister Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan then announced how the next parliamentary meeting will take place on July 13 and last for at least 15 days.