Opposition files no-confidence motion against PM, cabinet
The Edge Daily (11/7/08): After weeks of threatening to do so, the opposition led by its leader Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has submitted a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his cabinet.
Accompanied by other Pakatan Rakyat leaders, Wan Azizah filed the emergency motion under Standing Order 18(1) and (2) at the Dewan Rakyat Speaker’s office in parliament at about 3.45pm yesterday.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia has up to 24 hours to decide whether to allow the motion to be debated on Monday. Even if the motion is allowed, it is unlikely to cause the government’s downfall because members of parliaments are not required to vote on motions filed under Standing Order 18(1) and (2).
At a joint press conference with DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang and PAS secretary-general Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar later, Wan Azizah said Pakatan Rakyat filed the motion because the people’s confidence in the government’s integrity had been eroded.
She alleged that the Barisan Nasional achieved a slim victory due to the “manipulation” of the Election Commission and “lies”.
“The price of oil was suddenly increased after the general election although the deputy prime minister had promised not to do so during the launch of the BN manifesto. The states governed by Pakatan Rakyat are also marginalised and this shows BN’s attitudes against the spirit of democracy and federalism,” Azizah said.
She also said BN members who rejected their irresponsible leaders were threatened and forced not to speak up.
Among others, she said, the people had been affected by crises such as the increasing prices of oil, food and other basic necessities, erosion of confidence in the police, attorney-general and the judiciary, rise in crime rates and corruption.
On why Pakatan Rakyat submitted the motion now, Azizah said it was to allow MPs to discuss the matter as the situation in the country had gotten worse after the general election.
Kit Siang said the debate itself would provide an opportunity to gauge the level of confidence that the people had in the prime minister.
“That is why I think this opportunity should not be missed,” he added.
When approached by the press later, Pandikar said he would mull over the matter before deciding on whether to allow the motion on Monday.
On chances for the motion to be allowed, he said: “I don’t know. I still have a few days to think about it. I still haven’t read the motion.”
Under normal circumstances, those who proposed an emergency motion would know the speaker’s decision within a day as to whether the motion was rejected in chamber or brought to the House and rejected there, he added.
Pandikar also said there would be no voting on the motion even if it was allowed and he did not know the effect it would have.
Pressed further on the effect of the motion, he said: “I don’t know how to answer you because the question doesn’t make any sense to me. How to have the motion accepted if there is no vote? Read between the line. Exercise that mind.”
Accompanied by other Pakatan Rakyat leaders, Wan Azizah filed the emergency motion under Standing Order 18(1) and (2) at the Dewan Rakyat Speaker’s office in parliament at about 3.45pm yesterday.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia has up to 24 hours to decide whether to allow the motion to be debated on Monday. Even if the motion is allowed, it is unlikely to cause the government’s downfall because members of parliaments are not required to vote on motions filed under Standing Order 18(1) and (2).
At a joint press conference with DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang and PAS secretary-general Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar later, Wan Azizah said Pakatan Rakyat filed the motion because the people’s confidence in the government’s integrity had been eroded.
She alleged that the Barisan Nasional achieved a slim victory due to the “manipulation” of the Election Commission and “lies”.
“The price of oil was suddenly increased after the general election although the deputy prime minister had promised not to do so during the launch of the BN manifesto. The states governed by Pakatan Rakyat are also marginalised and this shows BN’s attitudes against the spirit of democracy and federalism,” Azizah said.
She also said BN members who rejected their irresponsible leaders were threatened and forced not to speak up.
Among others, she said, the people had been affected by crises such as the increasing prices of oil, food and other basic necessities, erosion of confidence in the police, attorney-general and the judiciary, rise in crime rates and corruption.
On why Pakatan Rakyat submitted the motion now, Azizah said it was to allow MPs to discuss the matter as the situation in the country had gotten worse after the general election.
Kit Siang said the debate itself would provide an opportunity to gauge the level of confidence that the people had in the prime minister.
“That is why I think this opportunity should not be missed,” he added.
When approached by the press later, Pandikar said he would mull over the matter before deciding on whether to allow the motion on Monday.
On chances for the motion to be allowed, he said: “I don’t know. I still have a few days to think about it. I still haven’t read the motion.”
Under normal circumstances, those who proposed an emergency motion would know the speaker’s decision within a day as to whether the motion was rejected in chamber or brought to the House and rejected there, he added.
Pandikar also said there would be no voting on the motion even if it was allowed and he did not know the effect it would have.
Pressed further on the effect of the motion, he said: “I don’t know how to answer you because the question doesn’t make any sense to me. How to have the motion accepted if there is no vote? Read between the line. Exercise that mind.”
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