Crucial BN talks tonight as vote fever bites
Speculation about confidence motion puts usual pre-council meeting on edge
(Free Malaysia Today) – Growing speculation and pressure for a confidence motion against Prime Minister Najib Razak will give an added edge to a meeting of Barisan National MPs and Senators tonight for their usual pre-council discussions ahead of a parliamentary sitting.
The Dewan Rakyat begins its final meeting for the year tomorrow, with the 2016 Budget, the main item on the agenda. A total of 28 motions are listed on the Order Paper, with an opposition MP’s notice of a motion of no-confidence in Najib listed at 25th.
The move by PKR’s Hee Loy Sian comes after months of pressure for Najib to leave office as Umno president and prime minister, with former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad at the forefront of the campaign.
The seven-week sitting of Parliament will be dominated by the 2016 Budget, which Najib will table on Friday.
The Budget debate is expected to be fiery, with questions raised about the financial affairs of the government investment arm 1Malaysia Development Bhd, the falling value of the ringgit on foreign exchange markets, the increases in toll charges on 16 major highways and a scheduled toll increase next year for the North-South Highway.
