PAS to push for vote of confidence in Dr M

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad tabling a motion in Dewan Rakyat. - Filepic

PETALING JAYA: PAS will table a vote of confidence in Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s leadership in Dewan Rakyat next month, says party deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

The tabling of the vote of confidence was decided unanimously by PAS central leadership council during its monthly meeting yesterday, he said.

Tuan Ibrahim said PAS wanted the bickering on whether Dr Mahathir had the confidence of the august House to stop once and for all.

He said the vote of confidence did not mean PAS was working to form a new coalition with Dr Mahathir’s Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.

“The continuous tumult (within Pakatan Harapan) against the prime minister has disturbed the political and economic stability.

“We see the need to ensure Dr Mahathir has the support from Dewan Rakyat to complete his full term.

“All 18 PAS MPs will support the vote of confidence which is done in the interest of the public to ensure a stable government, ” he said after the meeting.

Tuan Ibrahim added they believed Umno MPs would agree to their plan.

PAS secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said there seemed to be much drumming by those dissatisfied with Dr Mahathir and they should table a vote of no confidence against him.

“As there does not seem to be a vote of no-confidence, we decided to hold a vote of confidence for Dr Mahathir.

“If there is a vote of no-confidence, we will retract our motion and vote against the vote of no-confidence, ” he said.

Former de facto law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, however, said a motion of confidence on a sitting prime minister could only be brought by the party in the coalition.

“PAS doesn’t understand the parliamentary system. An opposition party has no business in the matter, ” he said in a posting on the Twitter.

“Parliament will be a laughing stock if PAS’ idea is even allowed, ” he added.

Political analyst Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian from Universiti Sains Malaysia said a vote of confidence for Dr Mahathir would “test the waters” of how the Prime Minister would carry out the transition to his successor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“If the Speaker does allow for a vote of confidence and Dr Mahathir enjoys the solid support from the 222 MPs, will he still keep to his promise to pass the baton to Anwar?

“Will the Pakatan presidential council continue to hold to their promise that they want the PKR president to still be the eighth PM?

“That being said, it is not so easy – as the Speaker has to agree – and there is the question if this will be just a mere show of hands or be debated on before a vote is taken, ” said Prof Sivamurugan.

In recent months, certain quarters have pushed to hasten the transition from Dr Mahathir to Anwar, who is Port Dickson MP, with some MPs from DAP and PKR criticising the former publicly.