MPs should be free to air their views without the threat of losing their positions as lawmakers, Muhyiddin Yassin said. 

The Perikatan Nasional chairman said the unity government agreement coalition members signed yesterday would be irrelevant if Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has the numbers to back his administration. 

“It appears that the prime minister is not optimistic about the upcoming vote of confidence in parliament on Monday.

“I was informed that he had already received 148 votes of support from MPs, which is more than two thirds of the majority, and there should be more trust in his supporters to deliver, not punish them with such an agreement,” he was quoted as saying in the news portal Star online today following an event at his constituency in Pagoh, Johor. 

The Bersatu president declared the terms in the memorandum of understanding (MOU), which would see lawmakers lose their seats if they vote against Anwar in a vote of confidence or any laws tabled by the administration, is unconstitutional. 

“I have never seen laws like this, and this could be applied if it touches on the anti-party hopping law. But this does not relate to the anti-party hopping law. 

“There are some views saying that this agreement is unconstitutional and illegal,” he was quoted as saying in the report. 

The unity government partners comprising Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and Warisan inked the MOU yesterday. 

Among its key points was the clause requiring all parties in the unity government to ensure its lawmakers support Anwar and his administration in any confidence motion or bill in the Dewan Rakyat. 

This is one of the five conditions outlined in the MOU signed by all the party leaders involved this afternoon. 

Any MP who votes against Anwar’s leadership or bills tabled by the government will automatically be deemed to have quit as a lawmaker. 

“The party concerned must then issue a notice to the Dewan Rakyat speaker on the vacant seat, according to article 49A(1), to notify the Election Commission (EC) on the need to hold a by-election,” the MOU states. 

Article 49A addresses that a member of a political party who was elected to parliament shall cease to be a member of the House of Representatives and that member’s seat shall become vacant immediately if such a member resigns his or her party membership or ceases to be a member. 

The party whips in the coalition must at all times ensure their party lawmakers adhere to the conditions stipulated in the MOU. 

The agreement effectively ensures the motion of confidence on Anwar’s leadership of the coalition is passed without a hitch on Monday. – December 17, 2022.