DEPUTY Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azalina Othman Said today questioned whether Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s vote of confidence (VOC) should be done earlier, and before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s royal address to Parliament on September 5.

She suggested that if the the government failed to secure the VOC, it means that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong should read a new royal address to the House, as that one would have been prepared by the current government.

Azalina said it would be proper to settle the VOC before the royal address.

The Pengerang MP pointed out that if the government failed to secure the VOC, it would mean the king would have to read out a new address by a new government.

The process of the king opening parliament would have to be done again.

“Sounds rather ridiculous, not to mention a waste of time and resources,” she said in a statement.

On Wednesday, Umno withdrew support for Muhyiddin and the Perikatan National government. The withdrawal of Umno’s support casts doubts on Muhyiddin’s majority in Parliament.

Muhyiddin then announced that he would face a motion of confidence in parliament in September.

Azalina also questioned why the VOC would be done in September and not earlier.

“Since the prime minister is facing the VOC, why September and not earlier?”

She said there are two options to speed up the VOC to August.

“The first is that Muhyiddin can call for a special sitting under standing order 11(3).

“The second option is by making available an alternate voting process, which is open voting or secret ballot.”

Azalina said this act can be done before the Dewan Rakyat speaker and votes counted by the Dewan Rakyat secretary.

“Why can’t this be done as soon as possible. It can be witnessed by the chief judge and each party’s representative.”

She also added that there should be an anti-hopping law to prevent MPs from withdrawing their support for or against the government.

“This should be an important agenda for the house to consider in the next sitting.” – August 6, 2021.