POLITICS: Can Perak MB survive a confidence vote?


Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu. -filepic

Will the motion of confidence to support the Perak Mentri Besar turn on him instead?

Pengkalan Baru assemblyman Datuk Abdul Manaf Hashim of Umno filed the motion to back Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, the assemblyman of Chenderiang, the only state seat Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia won in Perak.

The Perak assembly meeting starts on Friday (Dec 4).

If enough of the 59 assemblymen from the silver state do not vote in support of the Bersatu deputy president, it means Ahmad Faizal would have lost the confidence of his peers.

Who among them will support or oppose the Mentri Besar?

Here is the latest breakdown of the lawmakers based on party.

Some of them have jumped to a different party or become independent. After GE14, Umno's 27 assemblymen and PAS' three had the majority to form the Perak government. But two Umno representatives joined Bersatu.

Umno has 25 assemblymen (from 27), DAP 16 (18), Bersatu five (one), Parti Amanah Negara five (six), PAS three (three), PKR three (four), Gerakan one (zero) and independent one (zero).

"The strength of the Perak government depends fully on the support of Umno as it has 25 assemblymen. When Umno is said to be not satisfied with the MB or with Perak Perikatan Nasional, this raises a big question on how far the Perak Perikatan government can hold out," said Ilham Center executive director Hisommudin Bakar.

"But, based on Umno's attitude at the Federal level on supporting the Perikatan government on several issues, the party only made threats, as in the end, they were not willing to be in the opposition."

Hisommudin believes that the motion of confidence to support the Perak Mentri Besar would not be problematic if there was no order or blessing from Umno's central leadership to take action against Bersatu.

"I don't expect any big surprises. There is dissatisfaction, but it won't reach to Umno pulling out of the Perak government," he said.

However, an Umno insider doesn't discount that there could be a bi-partisan – which include Umno and DAP – opposition against Ahmad Faizal.

"It is the new political dynamics in Perak.

"Having 25 assemblymen is not enough for Umno to bring down Peja (as Ahmad Faizal is known). We will need the support of other parties," he said

The source said Perak Umno wanted to oust the Mentri Besar because he has failed to run the state effectively.

"Peja was given the chance to be Mentri Besar for 22 months when Pakatan Harapan governed Perak and nine months after Perikatan Nasional Plus took over. But there is no development project or people's wellbeing programme that he has brought to the state," he said.

The Umno insider said Ahmad Faizal should resign as Mentri Besar to avoid the humiliation of losing support in the assembly.

"As Bersatu deputy president and Tambun MP, he can always get a Federal position in Putrajaya," he said.

Will the move to oust the Mentri Besar go through or fail like the threat to defeat Budget 2021?

Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

RM 11.12/month

Billed as RM 11.12 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter.

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 9.87/month

Billed as RM 118.40 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Nation

Three-year-old case of baby's murder solved, father, uncle to be charged, say Johor cops
Bahrain to decide F1 ticket prices for Sepang race, says SIC chief
Cops to work with Interpol after busting two Forest City scam centres
Govt to offer free AI subscriptions for 100,000 youths, says PM
Negri Sembilan Royal Council launches fresh contempt bid against six individuals
Indonesian nabbed after causing ruckus in KLIA's Terminal One
Malaysia must move towards value-based healthcare, says Dzulkefly
Two new water plants aim to reduce shortages in Papar, Putatan, Kimanis, says Hajiji
Negri polls: Good chance Barisan will win but it will be close, says KJ
Work still under way on PMX AI avatar after brief social media debut, says Anwar

Others Also Read