No-confidence motion can still be tabled against Najib, says minister
(The Malaysian Insider) – A motion of no-confidence against the prime minister can still be tabled in Parliament through a private member’s bill, said Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, although the Standing Order is silent on this.
The minister in charge of parliamentary affairs said parliamentarians had the prerogative to table any private member’s bill, but whether it will be brought up for debate is dependent on Standing Orders 15 (1), which states that government business takes priority over other matters.
“In short, any MP can submit a private member’s bill on a motion of no-confidence in accordance to the Standing Order and it may also be debated in accordance to the Standing Order on government business.
“However, it should be understood that to pass any motion that involves voting, it is important to ensure there is at least a simple majority support, if not, the motion will be defeated,” she said in her blog today.
She said a no-confidence motion was previously tabled by opposition leader Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail against Najib’s predecessor, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi , in July 2008 under Standing Orders 18(1) and 18(2).
But it was rejected by speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia under Standing Order 18 (7) on the grounds that the bill stated that a vote to be taken on the no-confidence motion but the provisions it was filed under was to seek “negotiation”.
“So it was clear that the motion was not rejected, but it was against the Standing Orders,” she said.
Speculation was rife that the opposition will file a no-confidence vote against prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at the upcoming parliament sitting which starts on October 19.
