A COMMOTION erupted in the Dewan Rakyat today over the tabling of a motion of confidence in Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as opposition MPs questioned the need for it after the king had decreed the appointment.

While reading the motion, Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof said the unity government was decreed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

This drew an immediate response from Shahidan Kassim (Arau-Perikatan Nasional), who said the king’s words should not be used to influence the parliamentary meeting.

“If the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has given the decree to legitimise this (unity) government, then what is the need to have a motion of confidence?” Shahidan asked.

Mohd Sany Hamzan (Hulu Langat-Pakatan Harapan) responded by saying that “this is because the present prime minister (Anwar) has the guts, unlike the eighth prime minister”, in reference to Muhyiddin Yassin.

“We have a brave prime minister (Anwar) but the previous prime minister (Muhyiddin) was not and that is why he declared an emergency,” Sany, who is attending the meeting on a wheelchair following an operation, said.

Sany’s reply sparked a shouting match between him and the opposition bloc. 

Shahidan stoked matters when he was heard uttering “bodoh”(stupid), believed to be at the backbenchers.

Sany demanded Shahidan retract his remark, to which Shahidan sarcastically poked fun at the former’s current medical condition.

“This is what happens when one does not take his medicine,” he said. 

Sany told Shahidan to be mindful of his words and not make fun of one’s medical condition.

Speaker Johari Abdul intervened and told the lawmakers to calm down as the debate had to proceed and there were 12 MPs slated to debate the motion of confidence. 

Opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin (Larut-PN) was allowed to debate the motion. – December 19, 2022.