Azalina: No-confidence motion can be tabled against Najib
BY TAN YI LIANG'THE STAR
- Bernama
PETALING JAYA: A no-confidence motion can be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak during the upcoming Parliament session through a Private Member's Bill, said Datuk Seri Azalina Othman (pic).
"While there is no special provision in the rules of the Dewan Rakyat for a vote of no confidence, this does not mean Parliament doesn't allow it, as a vote of no confidence can be brought before the House as a Private Member's Bill under Rule 27(3) of the Standing Orders," said the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department.
Azalina, who put up a post on the matter on her website on Wednesday said that under the rule, any motion had to be delivered to the Speaker in writing no less than 14 days prior, except in the case of special matters which are defined under Rules 43, 86(5) and 26(1).
However, she pointed out that Standing Order 15(1) clearly stated that Government matters had to be debated before other matters before the Dewan Rakyat.
"Parliament has always embraced democratic principles, where every Member of Parliament has rights as laid down in the Constitution and the Standing Orders," said Azalina.
She pointed out that in July 2008, Permatang Pauh MP Datuk Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail tried to table a motion of no confidence in the leadership of then prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi under Rule 18(1) and 18(2) of the Standing Orders.
"However, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin rejected the motion under Rule 18(7) as the motion was a vote of no confidence considering Rules 18(1) and 18(2) are for negotiations. It is therefore clear that it is not the motion that is prohibited, but the motion contravened certain rules in the Standing Orders.
She however said it was unreasonable for MPs to "sabotage" a democratically-elected Government.
"We have to uphold the system of Parliamentary democracy and Constitutional monarchy practiced by Malaysia," said Azalina.
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