Several MPs across the political divide have taken to social media to demand Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin initiate an immediate vote of confidence in his Perikatan Nasional (PN) government after his audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong today.
Among them, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak questioned why Parliament was not reopened immediately for a vote following Muhyiddin’s statement that he has the numbers.
“Those who are supposedly exposed to Covid-19 in Parliament are already free, going here and there, ready for meetings with PM every night,” the Umno man who is Pekan MP posted on Facebook.
On the Opposition side, Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii questioned why Muhyiddin was deferring tabling the motion in Parliament to next month and said a delay would only prolong the ongoing political crisis.
“Delay tactic. If he is so certain of a majority, he could have called for a special sitting to test it even now, rather than prolong this political crisis & leave the people in limbo. While political stability is important, it is not an excuse to stabilise incompetence and failure,” he posted on Twitter.
Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil said a vote to test Muhyiddin’s majority has been a long time coming.
“He should have done this test at the first opportunity he had on becoming PM after March 1, 2020, not in September 2021. He could even have had it on Aug 2, 2021, when the Opposition Leader had submitted a motion of no confidence (dated July 29).
“If he ‘has the numbers’, he should call Parliament now. Under Standing Order 11(3), it can be done without the 28-day notice, with specifically one agenda: a vote of confidence.”
“Instead, he is dragging things on, and allowing this matter to remain unresolved.”
Subang MP Wong Chen also called on Muhyiddin to show his hand now rather than wait until September, if the prime minister was truly confident about his majority.
“Since the Prime Minister claims that he has a majority despite some Umno MPs having pulled out, which means he has at least 111 MPs supporting him. Please publish the names of the more than 111 MPs now.”
Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin questioned why the current special sitting, which has been put on hold for two weeks from July 29, cannot be used to hold the confidence vote.
“Is it still unsafe for MPs to conduct meetings? Look at all the late-night meetings at the PM’s residence or at hotels, those MPs allegedly vulnerable to Covid-19 are actively moving here and there.
“We can just continue with the current special sitting with a new motion to test the PM’s majority. Perikatan Nasional should have confidence to face the motion.”
Batu MP P Prabakaran from PKR similarly questioned why the prime minister could not prove he had a majority today.
“Why September? Why can’t the PM prove that he has Majority today?” he asked on Twitter.
Klang MP Charles Santiago said it was “interesting” that the Prime Minister was now open to a confidence vote, “something he has avoided for the better part of a year,” which indicated some intervention from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who Muhyiddin met this morning.
“It looks like the King has prevailed and put him on the spot to get him to put the matter to a vote. Now, he has no choice but to show he has the numbers.”
Meanwhile, netizens have been getting creative on how Muhyiddin’s majority can be determined.
MPs who are against Muhyiddin can “stand in front of Istana Negara” or in a field, or get together for a Zoom meeting to decide on who has the majority in Parliament – these are among the novel solutions netizens have come up with to determine whether Muhyiddin indeed enjoys parliamentary majority.
Most did not want to wait until September when the prime minister has promised a motion of confidence in the Dewan Rakyat.