Muhyiddin Yassin survives his first test.
The motion to remove Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof as Dewan Rakyat speaker was passed by narrow vote today, with 111 government MPs in support and 109 from Pakatan Harapan against it.
Rashid, who presided over the session, did not vote, while Maximus Ongkili (Kota Marudi-PBS) was absent on sick leave.
Earlier, the Dewan Rakyat sitting saw a heated exchange among the lawmakers when Rashid only allowed two MPs to debate the matter, but with only 10 minutes each, forcing protest by Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The opposition also questioned Muhyiddin’s move in tabling the motion for Ariff to vacate his position as the Speaker.
Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim then sought an explanation from the prime minister on why Ariff should vacate his post.
“If we already have a Speaker with credibility and good track record, a motion to remove him must have a strong reason…to replace him on the ground that there is a new candidate is unreasonable, very unreasonable.
“I want to stress that we can consider it if the PM can give a strong reason on why the excellent Speaker should be removed,” the Port Dickson Member of Parliament said.
Several other opposition leaders, including Gobind Singh Deo (PH-Puchong), Khalid Abdul Samad (PH-Shah Alam) and Datuk Mahfuz Omar (PH- Pokok Sena) also questioned the motion all at the same time and got themselves into a heard argument with the backbenchers who defended it.