Dewan Rakyat: Speaker: Decision on Monday

NST (11/7/08): Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia yesterday said he would decide on Monday on an opposition motion of no-confidence in the prime minister and cabinet.

Pandikar Amin said he would need a few days to consider the motion filed by opposition leader Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

"Let me think about this. I have not even read the contents of the motion yet."

Wan Azizah, accompanied by Pakatan Rakyat members, submitted the motion under standing order 18(1), which allows for a debate, but no vote to be taken.

For the motion to be allowed, it has to meet three criteria -- it must be urgent, specific and involve public interest.

In her motion, Wan Azizah called on the house to move a motion of no-confidence in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his cabinet.

Ministers have said a vote could not be called due to the government's solid majority in the Dewan Rakyat.

When told that the motion would not result in a vote, Wan Azizah said the opposition was working within what was allowed by Parliament's standing orders.

"It is another step to highlight the problem being faced by the country. Things are getting worse, particularly for the poor and something has to be done about it," she said.

Pas secretary-general Datuk Kamaruddin Jaffar said the motion was part of the Pakatan Rakyat's continuing effort to exert pressure on the government within the context of parliamentary rules.

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang said he hoped the motion would be allowed as it would gauge the government's state of preparedness.

"The people are now faced with several crises such as high fuel prices, increasing cost of food and basic necessities, eroding public confidence in the police, attorney-general and judiciary, and the increase in crime and corruption," Wan Azizah said.

She claimed the Barisan Nasional's victory in the election was achieved through manipulation of the Election Commission.

She also claimed that the BN MPs who stood up against "irresponsible" behaviour of the coalition's leadership were threatened and forced to keep quiet, leading to a crisis in confidence in Abdullah's leadership and his cabinet.

On June 23, the Dewan Rakyat had endorsed the government's policies against inflation in a division, easily defeating what was billed as a proxy vote of confidence in the leadership.