SERDANG: The proposed Fixed-term Parliament Act (FTPA) is only an idea, and there is no consensus from government leaders on it.
“There have been no discussions on the FTPA; it is still a premature idea and we have yet to decide on this,” says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
There was also no consensus from leaders in the unity government or any comments from the Attorney General, he told the media after officiating the “AI for Rakyat” programme at the Universiti Putra Malaysia here yesterday.
“We will go through the due process. As there has been a suggestion, we will look at it,” he said.
The law was initially proposed to ease public anxiety following the three changes of government after the 2018 general election and, most recently, the purported plot called the “Dubai Move”.
Anwar also said he did think the Opposition was serious about bringing a “no-confidence vote” against him in the Dewan Rakyat.
“I do not think that the Opposition is serious about such a vote. These are just matters being bandied about by the opposition; there is no basis for them. It is the same as the Dubai Move, as the Opposition is desperate,” said Anwar.
The FTPA was proposed by certain groups to ensure the government of the day serves out its full term and to put an end to the constant attempts to topple the government.
On Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi also said a law should be introduced to allow any government to complete its full five-year term.
The Opposition’s Perikatan Nasional leaders have denied any such attempt to topple the government.
Meanwhile, in Butterworth, Anthony Loke said a Fixed-term Parliament Act could be good as it could reduce political issues during the five-year term.
The Transport Minister said the matter must be brought to Parliament first for the members to discuss and decide on it.
“We agree in principle that such an Act is good. This system has been practised in the United Kingdom before, where in the five-year period, the Parliament cannot be dissolved at will,” he told a press conference after witnessing a memorandum of understanding between Railway Assets Corporation (RAC) and Penang Housing Board (LPNPP).
The DAP secretary-general, however, said the matter was still being discussed by the Prime Minister Department.
