ALTHOUGH Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has removed Dewan Rakyat Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof after winning 111 votes for his motion, his victory reveals how slim a majority he possesses.

Sources from the opposition bench said the Perikatan Nasional government currently has 113 MPs, which includes Deputy Speaker Rashid Hasnon who abstained from voting, and another MP who was absent.

Voting to remove Ariff as speaker was done by division vote.

“From our records, only 111 out of 113 voted for Muhyiddin’s motion because one was absent and the Rashid Hasnon (Batu Pahat-Bersatu) abstained as he was the presiding speaker,” said one Pakatan Harapan MP.

The Dewan Rakyat has 222 MPs.

The opposition lawmaker said the absent MP today is Sabah’s Maximus Ongkili (Kota Marudu-PBS).

Maximus reportedly hospitalised on July 10.

“This means that Muhyddin’s majority is very slim and just one sick MP can defeat his motions or bills,” said the source.

In the opposition bloc, all 109 MPs voted against the prime minister’s motion.

Of these, 92 MPs are from Pakatan Harapan, 10 each from Warisan and Upko, five independents led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and two from Parti Sarawak Bersatu.

The four MPs in Dr Mahathir’s faction are Mukhriz Mahathir (Jerlun), Amirudin Hamzah (Kubang Pasu), Maszlee Malik (Simpang Renggam) and Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muar).

The two from Sarawak are Baru Bian (Selangau) and Masir Kujat (Sri Aman). – July 13, 2020.