No-confidence notice filed

IN AN unprecedented move, the Opposition has submitted a notice to the Dewan Rakyat to debate on an emergency motion of no-confidence against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his Cabinet.

Opposition Leader Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail filed the motion at the Speaker’s office at 3.45pm, accompanied by other Pakatan Rakyat leaders including PKR vice-president Azmin Ali, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang and PAS secretary-general Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar.

Speaking to reporters later at the Parliament lobby, Dr Wan Azizah said she filed the emergency motion under Standing Orders 18 (1) and (2) because the situation in the country had “worsened”, especially for those in the poverty and low-income brackets.

“We have to discuss the matter because of what’s happening at the moment. We want to highlight the country’s politics, economics and the situation of the rakyat, particularly with the sudden increase in fuel prices.

Emergency motion: Dr Wan Azizah holding an envelope containingthe notice to debate a motion of no-confidence as she and otherOpposition MPs make their way to the Speaker’s office yesterday.

“We have met with the Speaker to explain our reasons and we will leave it to him to decide on whether to allow the motion,” she said, adding that the motion would also heighten the feeling that the country needed a change.

Dr Wan Azizah said the motion would also show voters what Pakatan Rakyat was doing for its voters under Parliamentary procedures.

“We are also speaking on behalf of the MPs on the other side who agree with us,” she said.

Previously PKR de facto adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had said that the Opposition would not seek a no-confidence vote against the PM.

If allowed by the Chair, the motion, which is filed under Standing Orders 18(1) and 18(2), will be heard and decided on Monday.

No vote will be taken as the motion would only be debated.