Salleh: No confidence vote in PM may lead to turmoil
PAS wants to use a no confidence vote to oust Najib Razak, but a similar move led to riots in Kelantan in 1977.
(Free Malaysia Today) – PAS vice-president Husam Musa proposed a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Najib Razak when Parliament commences next month.
“No confidence” is a feature of the Westminster system of government that Malaysia is using, said Salleh Said Keruak in his blog post yesterday.
The former Sabah chief minister explained the concept: “It means the executive, in this case the Prime Minister, is required to retain the confidence of the majority of the Members of Parliament.”
In Malaysia’s case this amounts to 112 of the 222 Members of Parliament.
A vote of no confidence against the Prime Minister is unprecedented in Malaysia.
Is this even a realistic consideration on Husam’s part?
“It is easier to pass a vote of no confidence when it is a minority government but more difficult when the government has a clear majority like in Malaysia.”
“ …the ruling party will have to break ranks and work with the Opposition for the vote to be passed,” wrote Salleh, who is Sabah State Speaker.
If the vote does pass, the PM will have to resign or seek the consent of the Agong to dissolve Parliament.
Malaysia would then face a fresh general election.
Salleh then cited the example of Kelantan in 1977, where similar proceedings took place on a state level.
“In 1977, PAS passed a vote of no confidence against the Kelantan Menteri Besar (Mohamed Nasir) but he refused to resign.”
