PAS rejects Zahid’s proposed special Bill to allow for full five-year term govt

PETALING JAYA: It is unacceptable to introduce any laws to allow the government to remain in power and complete its full five-year term despite losing its parliamentary majority, said Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan.

According to the PAS secretary-general, the Federal Constitution provides that a prime minister who naturally loses parliamentary majority should resign along with the respective Cabinet ministers.

“In that situation, the King should replace the prime minister with those who have proven to have the majority support of MPs.

“PAS believes that the Constitution provides for this and related practices around the world is in line with the idea of democracy itself, that a government will only be considered valid as long as it enjoys the support of the majority,” said Takiyuddin in a statement on Sunday (Jan 14).

“Therefore, any efforts to stop that core principle, whether through new laws or other undemocratic actions, is rejected definitively,” added Takiyuddin.

Takiyuddin said it is questionable how a senior political leader like Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi made a “novice suggestion” by proposing the introduction of a law to allow the government to complete its full five-year term.

Earlier, Takiyuddin also said it was nonsensical for Ahmad Zahid to propose a law that allows any government to remain in power.

Takiyuddin said that changes in government are allowed under the Constitution and it is in line with global democratic principles, where the government can be challenged by anyone who can prove their respective parliamentary democracy.

“The constitution is very clear about this and it is known that majority support is the basis for the formation of a legitimate government either following the general election or at any time,” said Takiyuddin.

“It is also the basic condition to obtain the King’s consent to appoint an MP who enjoys the parliamentary majority support as prime minister to preside over the Cabinet as provided in Article 43(2)(a) of the Constitution,” added Takiyuddin.

On Saturday (Jan 13), Ahmad Zahid said a specific law should be introduced to allow any government to complete its full five-year term.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, this would end constant plots to topple the government.

Ahmad Zahid’s comments came in the wake of an alleged conspiracy called the “Dubai Move” where certain Opposition leaders allegedly attempted to buy over enough government MPs to deny the current administration the required simple parliamentary majority.

Top Opposition leaders have described such allegations as “nonsensical libel”.