A VOTE of confidence should be called in Parliament to determine if Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has majority support to continue heading the government, said constitutional experts.

They told The Malaysian Insight this is the best way to solve the impasse after Anwar Ibrahim’s proclamation on Wednesday that the Muhyiddin-led Perikatan Nasional (PN) government has fallen.

Muhyiddin, meanwhile, has insisted he is still the prime minister, adding that the palace has not summoned him.

Lawyer Lee Wei Jiet said the ideal way to proceed is for a motion of no-confidence to be tabled, to test if Muhyiddin has the majority.

“If the vote succeeds, then the Agong can proceed to either dissolve Parliament as advised by Muhyiddin or appoint an MP who commands the confidence of the majority to be prime minister.

“This is a more transparent manner instead of back-door consultations that have been the norm in Malaysia,” Lee told The Malaysian Insight.

The PKR president said on Wednesday he has a convincing majority to take over Putrajaya, adding that he had already spoken to the king through a telephone call after the monarch was admitted to the National Heart Institute.

The Port Dickson MP, however, has not revealed the exact number of MPs in his corner, saying he will only do so after an audience with the king.

Palace comptroller Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, however, told Reuters the King has been advised by his doctors to remain at hospital for seven days for observation. So until then, he will not have any meetings.

Lawyer Gurdial Singh Nijar said the king could choose to interview lawmakers as had been done before.

“The Agong will need to verify who has majority support,” he said.

In February, following the sudden resignation of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the king met all MPs to gauge who they wanted as the prime minister.

He later invited Muhyiddin to form the government, after the Bersatu president cobbled together the support of Umno, PAS and Sarawak parties.

Gurdial said Muhyiddin could also take a leaf out of Mohd Shafie Apdal’s book to dissolve Parliament before Anwar pushes his move.

“The existing prime minister (who has lost the confidence of the majority) can also request the Agong to dissolve Parliament.

“It is up to the Agong to decide which course to take. His decision cannot be challenged. This is what happened in Sabah,” he said.

In Sabah, the then chief minister Shafie had advised the governor to dissolve the state assembly after his rival Musa Aman had claimed to have majority support. 

Sabah goes to the polls today.

Constitutional lawyer Malik Imtiaz Sarwar said the king can meet Anwar to consider the situation.

He said If Anwar’s claim can be justified, then it would be appropriate for the King to discuss what happens next with Muhyiddin.

“If Muhyiddin accepts Anwar’s position, he should offer his resignation. If he disputes it, he can ask the King to dissolve Parliament.

“The king has the prerogative to say no, after which Muhyiddin must resign and Anwar can then be asked to form the government,” he said.

Malik, however, added that all this depends whether Anwar has a strong majority as claimed.

Soon after Anwar’s announcement on Wednesday, both DAP and Amanah issued statements saying they were with him.

PN partners and Gabungan Parti Sarawak, however, pledged their support for Muhyiddin.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, meanwhile, said his party members were free to pledge their support to Anwar, if they wanted to. – September 26, 2020.