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(Comments on unrelated subjects may not be published).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.