ABDUL Hadi Awang wants Malaysians, especially members of parliament, to believe that Muhyiddin Yassin’s appointment as prime minister by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is cast in stone and, therefore, should not be questioned.

A local daily (The Star, March 7) reported “He also advised against pushing for a vote of no confidence against the prime minister in Parliament as the rakyat would judge those who pushed for such a motion”.

Muhyiddin was appointed as an interim prime minister. His appointment is not final and beyond question.

The letter of appointment made this clear as according to the constitution, the king “shall… appoint a member of the house of representatives who in his judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the house”.  

For Hadi’s benefit, Article 43 (2) (a) states in Malay “Yang di-Pertuan Agong hendaklah terlebih dahulu melantik sebagai perdana menteri untuk mempengerusikan jemaah menteri seorang ahli Dewan Rakyat yang pada hematnya mungkin mendapat kepercayaan majoriti ahli Dewan Rakyat”.

The Agong’s appointment is, therefore, interim and needs to be confirmed by the majority of the members of the house. The king therefore, contrary to what Hadi wants people to believe, would actually be relieved (akan berasa lega) when a vote of confidence is taken, whichever way it goes.

The politicians, Hadi included, have created a difficult situation for the Agong. Unlike in an election, where the party given a majority vote by the electorate presents its PM candidate to the Agong, now the candidate was chosen by horse trading which has yet to end.

The Agong had to appoint someone as he could not leave the country running on autopilot without a head. So, he appointed Muhyiddin, whom he believed had majority support at that time, with a silent proviso that the appointment is subject to confirmation by house. Hadi should not use his “religious” standing to mislead people about this.  

If nearing the sitting of Parliament, Hadi feels that a vote of confidence which must be taken might go against Muhyiddin, I will not be the least surprised if he upgrades his caution to saying that it is a sin to vote against the prime minister appointed by the Agong and those who do so will be judged by God. – March 9, 2020.

* Ravinder Singh reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.