Sunday, July 12, 2020

Historic Parliament Session Begins Tomorrow


A Kadir Jasin

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

PREAMBLE: Views expressed herein are entirely mine. I am writing in my personal capacity as a blogger. It has nothing to do with whatever position I may hold.

 Direct and indirect confidence motion possible
THE SITTING of the Dewan Rakyat (the House of Representatives) of the Malaysian Parliament starting tomorrow is a momentous occasion – a history in its own right.

Two “extraordinary” items fire the imagination of the public. One concerns the position of the Speaker and the other of the Prime Minister himself.

And there might be a third – a new voting bloc. The former Prime Minister (twice), Dr Mahathir Mohamad, had announced that six “Bersatu” MPs are aligning themselves with nine Warisan and a single UPKO members to form a new voting bloc.

As had been widely reported, the Prime Minister, Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin, had submitted a motion seeking the removal of the highly regardless Speaker, Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof, while Dr Mahathir would continue with his motion to have Muhyiddin removed.

(Comments on unrelated subjects may not be published).

Since being sworn in on March 2, Muhyiddin had adopted a slash and burn policy of firing appointees of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, most of whom were professionals, and replacing them with his people, the majority of whom are politicians. It’s his way of buying support.

Mohamad Ariff, a former Appeal Court judge was appointed in July 17, 2018 upon the victory of the PH in the May 9 General Elections.

Also to be removed is one of the two Deputy Speakers, Nga Kor Ming, the PH (DAP) Member of Parliament for Teluk Intan, Perak. The other, Mohd Rashid Hasnon, the PH (PKR) MP for Batu Pahat, Johor, appears to be unaffected.

It has been widely reported that Muhyiddin has nominated the former Chairman of the Election Commission, lawyer Azhar Harun, as the candidate for the Speaker post and the BN (Umno) MP for Pengerang, Johor, Azalina Othman Said, as Nga’s replacement.

Azhar, who is better known by his non de plume Art Harun, resigned from the EC on June 29. He was nominated to the EC post by the PH government of which Muhyiddin was a senior member.

It appears that he is being nominated in order to continue to give a semblance of independence to the Chair.

But it raises eyebrows because only four months ago Muhyiddin had nominated his elder brother, Idrus Harun, as Attorney General.

Two things are to be considered. Firstly, it has been widely reported that this is the first time in the country’s history that the Prime Minister is seeking the removal of the Speaker.

Secondly, the motion could be used to show confidence in the Prime Minister or as an indirect no-confidence vote against him depending on the “yea” and “nay” from members.

Do bear in mind that Muhyiddin himself had admitted, during his March 27 television broadcast, that “this isn’t the government you voted for.”

His Muafakat Nasional (MN) ally, Pas President Abdul Hadi Awang was even more candid when he described Muhyiddin’s Perikatan Nasional (PN) government as one that came in through the roof.

Abdul Hadi, who is the MP for Marang, had since been appointed Muhyiddin’s Special Envoy to the Middle East with ministerial status and understandably had stopped complaining about the legitimacy of the PN’s government.

No-Confidence Motion

According to media report, Dr Mahathir had successfully submitted a no-confidence motion against Muhyiddin. It was supposed to have been moved in the last session.

But Muhyiddin succeeded in stifling it by limiting the session to one day - May 18 - and confining the nominal sitting to just the King’s speech.

And now it’s being widely speculated that Muhyiddin is seeking Mohd Ariff’s removal because he (Mohd Ariff) accepted Dr Mahathir’s motion. If he remains in the Chair, he might facilitate the tabling of the “usul”.

Muhyiddin could be betting on a more thoughtful and kinder treatment from a new Speaker in whose appointment he has a hand.

But it might not be as easy as that. He could face resistance from House members. They might not agree with his attempt to remove Mohd Ariff and appoint Azhar.

If this happens, his standing as the Prime Minister will be hurt because such an outcome could be interpreted as an indirect no-confidence vote against him.

Conversely, if he succeeds in having Mohd Ariff removed and Azhar appointed, his position becomes stronger and Dr Mahathir’s no-confidence motion could see a tougher passage.

But whatever the outcome maybe, the final objective must still be for the good of the country and the people more so as we enter the recovery phase of the Covid-19 pandemic and are rebuilding of the economy.

Wallahuaklam.


6 comments:

Yang Sudah Tu, Sudah lah said...

In Sha Allah, undi tidak percaya terhadap PM tidak akan kesampaian. Setakat ini kerajaan telah menangani isu covid 19, isu ekonomi dan isu kehidupan rakyat dengan berkesan.

Biar lah PH dan Blok Bebas berterusan membuang masa membuang tenaga dengan berpolitik sepanjang masa tanpa nilai tambah.

Mood rakyat sudah berubah dan ada perasaan menyesal dengan kerajaan 22 bulan. Sekarang mereka sudah bersedia untuk membuat penilaian yang lebih rasional berbanding dengan penilaian yang mereka buat semasa PRU14.

Akhir kata biarlah si luncai dengan labunya dan biar lah Mat Jenin dengan angan2 nya.

Sekian.

Melayu hampa said...

Dear Dato,

I have been growing impatient with his actions. granted i was one of those in favor of bersatu moving out from ph. and I still am. but apparently colluding with umno, muhidin have had a tougher time reconciling with his action lately. if he is in dilemma, then i have no doubt that his endorsement to some of those tht happened lately would later haunt him. I know he face difficulties dealing with umno. but why would he succumb to the pressure ? all he needed to do is come clean and the people would help him by voting bersatu instead of umno. if only he calls for elections instead of succumbing to their demands. was there even a dilemma ? or is he just contend to returning to how things are when umno was in power ?

I am appalled by politicians who thinks they must do and plot everything on their own and think lesser of us as someone they could turn to for answers. to these imbeciles we are only relevant every 5 years. do they take us as fools ?

could it be tht this system (party for malay and bumiputera) is incompatible with bumi and malay to begin with ? once u r in the system, u gonna have to pour favor and win favor of some to move up and gain support. why is this the case ? the game of numbers ? The way i see it, it is as if expected tht the people serve the party instead of the other way around. now listen very carefully, those days of pembesars and hulubalangs and datuk paduka wht not are long gone. we dont listen to them and serve them now. in this time those elected answers to us.

things happening of late, makes me wonder if at all tht the bumi and malay need to choose/ vote for one among competing parties. All choices presented to us are horrible.

maybe we dont need one (party). all we need is just our very own candidate with our blessing and answer only to us as we fund them directly. this way a candidate wont have to answer to questionable leader and get a direct feedback from the people who voted him up. plus they wont have to wait 5 years to listen to us again. any policies and issue will be taken to us for us to give our verdict and our candidates merely extends our wishes.

no loyalty to party no loyalty to presiden but only to the people bringing him/ her up.

frankly speaking I am sick of the political game within and outside of parties which shows how egoistic all the politicians are making decisions on their own dismissing our voice, the very people they should be serving. what are we to them ? just a bystanders ? neither party are acceptable to us now. we should rally our own candidate. we no longer trust the politicians, nor do we respect them enough to make decision for us. we should boycott all parties representing malay/bumi and elect our own candidate.

Aku said...

Kadiag, : ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ‎; as-salāa mu ʿalaikum’
Hang nulih “ Comments on unrelated subjects may not be published). “
Aku setuju sangat, hang kena jaga2, muga2 tak jadi satu qoidah “censorship”. Maghap no...

Hang jugak nulih...” But whatever the outcome maybe, the final objective must still be for the good of the country
and the people more so as we enter the recovery phase of the Covid-19 pandemic and are rebuilding of the economy. “

Aku rasa sedih, teharu jugak. Lojik akai kata mana munkin depa ni buat macam hang harapkan, yg nampaknya
melakukan kedzoliman, beterang terangan, antaranya bahagi ‘ghonimah’ jawatan dan gaji yg lumayan sama2 depa,
yg sayugia sebagiannya dah kaya raya sakan,
dan paling perit pada aku, mendapat sokongan dan dikuatkan lagi olih tok peti tok peti, dan lain2 ‘agamawan’ yg mengaji tinggi2.
Harapan hang tu, kalu hang olah jadi du’a kpd yg maha Esa dan maha bekuasa munkin lebih afdzol.
Kod hang bulih dengag balik lagu d’lloyds betajuk ‘keagungan tuhan’.

Maghap no, dari orang lanjut usia, banyak mengelamun lagi dhoif,
Aku

wansee c said...

We are all at the centre of a perfect storm. The august House of Parliament has gone nutso. What a chaotic and unprepossessing proceeding, just like circus, nothing more and nothing less. What the world is coming to my beloved nation?

NamaSamaran said...

Kadir Jason.
Apa cerita dakwaan Najib tentang peranan Kamu sebagai Proksi UMNO dalam saham MRCB ????
Jangan ikut cara Najib asyik alasan Tak tahu.
Kamu selalu warwar kan Mahkamah persepsi rakyat.Ayuh Kadir,tunggu apa Lagi..come out clean .

Unknown said...

Thought this guy was a deacon for malaysia. He has sold his soul and principles for his personal greed. May God help us all

About Me

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I was born in 1947 in Kedah. I came from a rice farming family. I have been a journalist since 1969. I am the Editor-in-Chief of magazine publishing company, Berita Publishing Sdn Bhd. I was Group Editor NST Sdn Bhd and Group Editor-in-Chief of NSTP Bhd between 1988 and 2000. I write fortnightly column “Other Thots” in the Malaysian Business magazine, Kunta Kinte Original in Berita Harian and A Kadir Jasin Bercerita in Dewan Masyarakat. Books: Biar Putih Tulang (1998), Other Thots – Opinions & Observations 1992-2001 (2001), The Wings of an Eagle (2003), Mencari Dugalia Huso (2006), Damned That Thots (2006), Blogger (2006), PRU 2008-Rakyat Sahut Cabaran (2008), Komedi & Tragedi-Latest in Contemporary Malaysian Politics (2009) and Membangun Bangsa dengan Pena (2009).