SHAH ALAM – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reiterated that he will not prevent any attempts by Perikatan Nasional (PN) to table a no-confidence motion against him during the next Dewan Rakyat sitting.
Speaking to a crowd of Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) supporters at a ceramah event in Subang Bestari here last night, Anwar – who is also PH chairman – repeated his challenge for PN to propose the motion.
“If (PN component parties) PAS and Bersatu want to move a motion (of no confidence) against me, just do it. I will not block (the motion from being passed),” he said.
Ostensibly taking a swipe at PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Anwar asserted that he will not devise similar tactics to those supposedly used by the former prime minister, saying: “I’m not like (Muhyiddin), who declared an emergency when a motion was proposed.”
“I have told Dewan Rakyat Speaker (Datuk Johari Abdul) that there is no need for a two-week notice (before voting on a no-confidence motion). Three days is enough.
“If you (PN) are confident, propose the motion,” he said, garnering applause from attendees.
Parliament is set to reconvene on October 9 for the third meeting of the second session of the 15th Parliament.
Anwar’s challenge to PN was previously issued in May and earlier this month, during which he said that complaints about political instability must stop to allow the government to direct its focus toward protecting the people’s welfare.
Previously, Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal had pinned the blame on Johari as the reason why PN had yet to discuss plans to propose a no-confidence motion against Anwar.
Claiming that there are “difficult technicalities” relating to the Speaker, Wan Fayhsal alleged that Johari is “biased” as the PKR veteran is “part of Anwar’s people.”
Last December, Anwar had passed a parliamentary motion of confidence in his leadership through a voice vote after he himself called for the motion to allay any doubts about the legitimacy of his administration. – July 30, 2023