LAWYER Ramkarpal Singh is of the view that it is unnecessary for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to face a vote of confidence when parliament sits on December 19.

Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) Bukit Gelugor lawmaker said it is clear that the Tambun MP enjoyed an overwhelming majority of 140 seats.

“In fact, it is likely that Pakatan Harapan now has a two-thirds’ majority in parliament,” he said in a statement today.

After being sworn in as prime minister on Thursday, Anwar said he is willing to face a vote of confidence in parliament to prove he has the numbers needed to form a government.

“This will be the first order of business for this government when parliament convenes,” he said soon after he was sworn in.

Anwar said last Friday his unity government has the support of 30 Barisan Nasional MPs as well as 23 from Gabungan Parti Sarawak, six from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, three from Warisan, and one from Parti Bangsa Malaysia.

Along with PH, the support of these lawmakers gives Anwar a “convincing” majority of 145 in the 222-seat parliament.

Ramkarpal said a vote of confidence ought to be encouraged when there are doubts as to whether a government has the majority.

“For instance, when Perikatan Nasional (PN) came into power after the Sheraton move.

“In that instance, Muhyiddin Yassin (PN chairman) ought to have done so as it was unclear if he had the support of at least 112 MPs.

“His failure to do so rightly drew considerable criticism in the circumstances,” he said.

He said it is understandable for Anwar to have announced his intention to table a motion of confidence, as it was said before Muhyiddin conceded yesterday that PH has the numbers.

“With Muhyiddin’s said concession and confirmation that PN will provide a check and balance for the government by forming the opposition, the need for a vote of confidence by PH does not arise.

“It would be better to focus on the budget and prepare thoroughly for the same in the upcoming parliamentary sitting instead of wasting time on a vote of confidence that now serves no purpose.” – November 26, 2022.