Muhyiddin’s next step after Umno MP pulls support
PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is only required to tender his resignation to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong if he is sure that he no longer holds the majority, a constitutional expert said.
“If the prime minister is certain that he does not garner a majority, he offers his resignation to the King and the King will take it from there,” said Bastian Pius Vendargon.
Yesterday, Kelantan Umno chief Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub, who is Machang MP, withdrew his support for Muhyiddin, leaving the Perikatan Nasional government potentially short of a majority in the Dewan Rakyat.
It was feared that more Umno MPs might follow suit.
Vendargon said that Muhyiddin must take into account the number of MPs supporting him so that he is certain about whether he has lost majority support.
Under the constitution, he must inform the King and offer his resignation or advise that Parliament be dissolved.
Vendargon said the King might ask someone else who commands the majority to for a new government, or accept the prime minister’s advice to dissolve Parliament, paving the way for fresh parliamentary elections.
However, the King may also reject the resignation because of the Covid-19 crisis or he may also appoint an interim government until the crisis improves, he added.
However, the lawyer said the health crisis does not call for a state of emergency to be declared. The health crisis is not one of the categories under Article 150, he said.
A state of emergency can only be declared if there is a grave emergency involving security, economic life or public order. “One could argue that because of Covid-19, the economy is now in a state of emergency. It is an indirect way to argue that.”
Ahmad Jazlan’s withdrawal of support leaves Muhyiddin with the backing of 111 MPs, against the 109 MPs lined up with Pakatan Harapan and its allies. The number includes Jazlan.
The PN government requires 112 votes for a simple majority in the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat. The deaths of two MPs has left their seats vacant.
Jazlan is the second Umno politician to have announced withdrawal of support for Muhyiddin, after Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, MP for Gua Musang, who said he would not support the federal budget last month. The budget was approved by a narrow margin. - FMT
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