Tengku Razaleigh urges Dewan Rakyat to debate no confidence motion

Irwan Muhammad Zain
October 14, 2020 20:37 MYT

Tengku Razaleigh said the proposer of the motion, Dr Mahathir, claimed that Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin did not allow the motion to be debated twice by listing it at the end of the debate list. - Filepic/Astro AWANI

KUALA LUMPUR: Member of Parliament (MP) for Gua Musang, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has called for the Motion of No Confidence brought by Langkawi MP, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat.

The matter was revealed by Tengku Razaleigh through his letter to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun on September 25.

In that way, he said, the debate on the motion was obstructed as well as voting on it could not be carried out by the Dewan Rakyat.

Tengku Razaleigh opined that the Motion of No Confidence was very important for several reasons including the legitimacy of the current government under the leadership of the Prime Minister.

"If the motion is supported by the majority of Members of Dewan Rakyat, as a result of the constitution that follows, it must be presented to the knowledge of DYMM Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

"I think the motion should be submitted to the Dewan Rakyat as an important matter that needs immediate attention so that the government led by the prime minister can now confirm its legitimacy in the Dewan Rakyat.

"I made this proposal based on Article 62 of the Federal Constitution," he said.

Through the letter, the UMNO veteran revealed that he had been offered the position of Petronas Advisor by the prime minister but rejected it.

“I reject it out of concern for Article 48 (1) (c) of the Federal Constitution in relation to "Disqualification from being a Member of Parliament" if he holds a position that provides income.

"This sub-section aims to prevent Members of the Dewan Rakyat from supporting or even voting in order to support the government for the purpose of ‘political bribery’," he added.

Azhar then on September 29 replied to the letter and explained that the allegation that the prime minister did not allow the No Confidence Motion to be debated by listing it at the end of the Order of the Meeting was untrue.

He explained that Rule 15, the Rules of the Meeting of Dewan Rakyat states that government matters should take precedence over other matters.

"Therefore, all Bills and Government Business Motion matters were prioritized during the Second Meeting, Third Term, 14th Parliament from July 13 to August 27, 2020," he said.

Azhar also suggested that Tengku Razaleigh consult the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan if he wants private motions be given priority.

"As explained, all my decisions as Speaker on any motion to be given priority should be submitted and comply with the provisions of the Meeting Rules," he added.

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