Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim claimed today that Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has lost majority support in Parliament.
As Parliament remains suspended, Anwar claimed the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government has fallen after MPs withdrew their support from Muhyiddin’s administration.
“Today we gather to state that in terms of numbers of MPs, Muhyiddin’s government has fallen today.
“I was informed there were MPs from other parties who applied to leave PN,” the PKR MP told Pakatan Harapan lawmakers who gathered at Dataran Merdeka this morning after being prevented access to Parliament.
“With the 107 MPs gathered here today, along with them (MPs who allegedly left PN), the government has been toppled,” said Anwar.
Muhyiddin’s critics, led by Anwar, had repeatedly raised questions over the legitimacy of the current PN government that took over Putrajaya through defections of Harapan MPs.
Last September, Anwar claimed he had majority support from MPs to recapture Putrajaya and would have an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.
Anwar, former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and other opposition MPs marched from Dataran Merdeka to Parliament this morning but stopped short of attempting to force their way through heavy police barricades that included FRU personnel.
Opposition MPs have renewed their call for Muhyiddin’s resignation after a royal rebuke from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong last week.
Anwar, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng previously accused Muhyiddin of using Covid-19 as an excuse to prevent Parliament from sitting.
Lawmakers from Warisan, Upko, Muda, Pejuang and Parti Sarawak Bersatu have joined Pakatan Harapan MPs in calling for Muhyiddin and his cabinet to step down.
“We honour the the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s views on the importance as well the need for the institution of the Parliament of Malaysia to be dignified and the Constitution of the Federation to be complied with.
“The foundations and pillars of this national Constitution must be upheld and needs to be translated through action professionally without fear or favour which makes possible the main foundation for an administration transparent and with untarnished integrity.
“We also take seriously the expression of the king’s rebuke to de facto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan and attorney-general Idrus Harun who failed in carrying out the orders and obtaining the consent of His Majesty so that the proposed repeal of all emergency ordinances be tabled and debated in Parliament.
“The Perikatan Nasional government has deliberately prevented and turned off democratic systems and checks that need to be lifted and translated through the institution of the Parliament of this country.
“Accordingly, with reference to Article 43 (3) of the Federal Constitution, we urge the prime minister and all members of the cabinet under his leadership to resign honourably with immediate effect,” read their statement.
The statement was signed by Warisan president Mohd Shafie Apdal, PSB’s Baru Bian and Masir Kujat, Muda’s Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and Upko president Wilfred Madius Tangau.
Pejuang’s four MPs – Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Mukhriz Mahathir, Amiruddin Hamzah and Dr Shahruddin Md Salleh – also joined in the call for Muhyiddin’s resignation.
They argued that the prime minister and his cabinet violated Article 36 (7) of the Rules of Procedure Dewan Rakyat which prevents any party from abusing the Agong’s name.
“We, Pejuang MPs, recommend that Muhyiddin and the entire cabinet take the honourable path of immediately resigning from their respective posts.
“Only in this way can the protracted political turmoil end and full focus can be given to efforts to resolve the health, economi, and social crises that has now plagued the country for over 17 months (since Muhyiddin took over as premier).”
“I’m together with the Opposition supporting the stance that the sitting must be held on Monday to discuss the Emergency Ordinances,” Dr Mahathir said, adding that the country must be governed by the rule of law.
Mukhriz claimed that the government is barely holding on, adding that the reason it chose to shut Parliament was to avoid a vote of no-confidence.
“They are worried Muhyiddin will be removed. They are worried they will lose power. They are stopping us from entering Parliament because they are scared we will dare them for a no-confidence vote,” he said.
Syed Saddiq described the government as the most “corrupt and morally bankrupt” administration in Malaysia.
“They say the youth can’t protest at Dataran Merdeka. But when the MPs elected by the people want to voice out in parliament, they shut parliament down.
“If this is not a cowardly government, then I don’t know what it is,” he said.
Shafie Apdal described Monday as a black day in Malaysian history, where the Constitution and royal decree were not upheld in the Parliament.
He said as MPs, all of them legally have the right to enter Parliament grounds.
He also stressed that the revocation of the Emergency Ordinances and all Bills must be passed in Parliament as the process of Parliamentary democracy.
“This is also our right as lawmakers. Separation of powers must be there.
Shafie pointed out that the Agong’s decree for the parliament to sit must be upheld, adding that the government’s refusal to do so proved that it is “derhaka” (treasonous) towards the king.
“The Speaker promised that our questions will be answered on Monday but the government cancelled it at the last minute,” he said
Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh said Putrajaya was being ridiculous in barring lawmakers from going to Parliament House.
“MPs are not only allowed to enter Parliament House but are being stopped from going anywhere near the building. This is ridiculous. This should not be happening. Why are they so afraid?” he asked.
Meanwhile, Opposition MPs attempting to march to Parliament were met by riot police and threatened with arrest.
Following fiery speeches from the opposition leadership at Dataran Merdeka, the assembly of MPs, singing and chanting, set off for Parliament House.
However, en route to the building, they ran into a wall of officers from the Federal Reserve Unit, which is usually deployed for riot control.
The lawmakers ended their protest after opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim declared that the “107 MPs” present “have made their point”.
The MPs and their supporters eventually dispersed at about 10.40am, with some returning to Dataran Merdeka, as the FRU officers urged all those gathered to leave.
In addressing the crowd and calling on them to disperse, Anwar said the MPs had stated their position very clearly, adding that 107 MPs from every opposition party were present at the march.
“The (Dewan Rakyat) Speaker has gone back on his promise and has failed to conduct his duties. He is most dishonourable in this manner, to protect the prime minister who has lost his legitimacy.
“We are here as Malaysians who are loyal to the King, and who want to uphold the constitution and protect the people’s welfare. The people are suffering because of the government’s failure.
“The government has lost its support and failed to carry out its duties, but continues to struggle to hold on to power,” he said, before asking the crowd to disperse.
In a quick word to the crowd, Anwar said the government today has clearly gone against the Constitution, stopping MPs from doing their jobs aside from being treasonous toward the King.
“They know this is wrong, anyone can see that this is wrong.” he told the crowd.
Most of the MPs and their supporters had cleared the area by 11am.