In the bloc votes at Budget 2021 so far, the PM has not been able to show he has the defining support of 111 MPs in the 222-seat Parliament, P Ramakrishnan writes.
No matter what may be said or claimed, the Prime Minister, Muhyiddin Yassin, has never had majority support in Parliament. In fact, Perikatan Nasional is not a legitimate government because it wasn’t elected by a popular mandate. So, both the prime minister and his backdoor government remain illegitimate, ie without a popular mandate.
But all kinds of silly statements are made to shore up Muhyiddin’s popularity and hoodwink the population of this nation to project him as the one enjoying majority support in Parliament. This is nothing but a concocted lie!
In refusing to bring forward the 27 motions that have been submitted to test confidence in the prime minister, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Takiyuddin Hassan had ridiculously claimed:
- “There has been no indication that Muhyiddin has lost majority support in the Dewan Rakyat so far”
- “The issue of a supposed lack of or loss of majority support for the prime minister does not arise at all”
- “The procedure will stand for government affairs to take precedence over private matters”
Let’s examine the minister’s absurd statement that “there has been no indication that Muhyiddin has lost majority support in the Dewan Rakyat so far.”
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How can there be any indication of support for the PM – if the confidence vote was not put to test his majority? Without a vote of confidence, there could be no credence to his claim that there is a definite indication of support! It is a myth to believe so!
As for the minister’s dubious claim that “the loss of majority support for the prime minister does not arise at all”, that claim is more ludicrous than spurious.
We, thinking Malaysians, beg to differ with the minister. Because the confidence vote was never tested democratically, it is all the more necessary for a vote of confidence to settle this doubt. It is incumbent on the government to establish that it indeed enjoys majority support. It must prove that it has not lost majority support by facts and not by unsubstantiated claims.
Parliament is the only place in a democracy to determine who commands majority support to lead the government. If this opportunity is denied and obstructed deliberately by silly technical arguments, how is it possible to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that Muhyiddin has majority support to be the PM?
Can the minister answer this question diligently and honestly?
The minister is clearly not capable of understanding the meaning of majority support. Majority support would mean that the PM has the support of at least 112 MPs out of the 222 MPs in Parliament to claim a simple majority. This simple truth has not been established so far in a vote of confidence.
What is abundantly clear is the fact the PM does not even have the defining 50% support of MPs in Parliament. This is an indisputable and unchallengeable fact. The PM has not shown that he has such the defining support of 111 MPs to convince us that he has the 50% support of Parliament. This is a fact beyond any reasonable doubt!
He has had many days and many occasions since 26 November 2020 to prove he had at least 111 MPs on his side. He has failed miserably so far to do so!
In all the instances when bloc vote was taken at various committee stages, the allocations for the ministries were never approved by at least 111 MPs. The closest that the government secured was on 3 December, when 110 MPs voted to support the allocation for the Ministry of International Trade and Industry with 104 against. So where is the majority support that you claim, Takiyuddin?
The minister is incapable of understanding the difference between governing with authority and governing in an authoritarian manner. When you have the clear support of the majority, then you govern with authority – you govern legitimately.
But when you don’t have that majority, as is evident with Muhyiddin, then you become an authoritarian government. That is what the PN government is. Democratic principles and procedures have been set aside just to prevent democracy taking its natural course in determining whether the PM has majority support.
If the PM has any pride or dignity he should subject himself to this test honourably. But then, it would be expecting too much from a backdoor government that stole the popular mandate.
PN’s stand had been that Anwar Ibrahim did not have the numbers to take over the government. The passing of Budget 2021 was held out as evidence that Anwar’s claim was an empty boast.
Then, what is your fear? Are you afraid that a vote of confidence will expose you as a PM without a majority to lead the government?
If not, then why don’t you have a vote of confidence and shut up all those claiming and clamouring that you are a minority government? A faction of Parliament should not overlook or ignore what Malaysians desire.
You can bring forward the 27 motions lying at the bottom of the order paper so that they can be debated and decided upon to test the confidence in the PM once and for all. The whole country would want the question of confidence in the PM to be resolved expeditiously.
Pay heed: “It is impossible that the whisper of a faction should prevail against the voice of a nation.” – Lord John Russell
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
The hammer Of rational has hit realities nail on the head. In any other country this would be the coffin. But in a country with shameless individuals and slavish mentalities- the best of morality, humanity or conscience is a lost cause. This whole lot should go. Get lost ! Pack up! Kicked out ! Vanish!
Time for the force to be to be made known and they have to decide
Yes, Rama you are spot on.
But it will make no difference to hypocrites like Takiyuddin and Muhyiddin.
They can hold on to their political posts, that is what matters so why should they care.
Anwar has kept conspicuously silent, which is just as well, granted his tendency to cry wolf, but Dec.17th beckons, Anwar!!
I agree with Ronald, granted the current economic scenario, a bipartisan effort to help the rakyat will be best. But have we not seen that from the word go, the backdoor PM has been working to amass more power and sideline the opposition?
I think at this juncture where thousands of people have lost their jobs and the Covid 19 seems be taking a toll, what is required now is not a no confidence motion but how to work bi-partisanly to help the rakyat. This should be the first priority. Looking at Umno and it’s games of manipulating Anwar,and his own strategy to work with some of the bad apples, any government that takes over will also be manipulated for self seeking power.