No-confidence move against PM

PETALING JAYA: PKR’s Petaling Jaya Selatan MP Hee Loy Sian has submitted a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in the Order Paper for the Parliament meeting starting tomorrow.

The motion is listed as the 25th motion out of 28 scheduled for debate.

The motion, which is in relation to the RM2.6bil “donation” deposited into Najib’s personal account, however, is unlikely to be debated because the House usually deals with government business first.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Opposition had the right to table a no-confidence motion but Barisan Nasional would oppose it.

Dr Ahmad Zahid, who is also Barisan’s chief whip, said the ruling coalition’s elected representatives would be ready to oppose such motion.

“It is up to the Speaker and Dewan Rakyat’s administration to manage motions put in the docket.

“However, procedures state that priority will be given to government matters,” he said yesterday when commenting on the no-confidence motion tabled against Najib.

He said the Speaker also had the power to reject or approve any motion.

Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) deputy chairman Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin said any attempt made by the Opposition to table such a motion would be futile.

He said PKR had tabled such a motion in 2008 but it was rejected by the Speaker.

“I think the repeated moves made by PKR shows that they do not understand parliamentary procedures. We are following the Westminster parliamentary system, under which such a move will not have any impact on us.

“What they are trying to do is childish and a waste of time,” he said.

Bung also took a swipe at the Opposition for trying to take advantage of the situation and confuse the people about Najib’s leadership.

“What I do not understand about the Opposition is that they have lost in the general election and they have no local standi to make such a call. Barisan was chosen by the rakyat and they should respect the people’s decision.

“If Umno wants to change its leader, let us do it from within, who are they to try and table a no-confidence motion,” he said.

The Kinabatangan MP also believed that no Barisan Nasional lawmaker would support the motion if it was passed through for debate.

Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee said all motions had been screened by the Speaker but the government’s business always took precedence over other matters.

“While there is no special provision in the rules of the Dewan Rakyat for a vote of no-confidence, any parliamentarian can submit it as a Private Member’s Bill,” he said.

In Pasir Gudang, PKR vice-president Tian Chua said the Opposition was confident of achieving a majority in the no-confidence motion, claiming that 88 Opposition MPs were ready to vote for it.

“We are urging MPs from Barisan to join forces with us,” he said at a talk.

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