Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz ridiculed claims by some Pakatan Rakyat MPs that four of their members will be suspended tomorrow as part of a BN conspiracy to push for constitutional amendments.

Nazri said that even with four suspensions, the fact remains that BN still needs the support of 148 out of the total 222 MPs to pass any Bills pertaining to constitutional amendments.

“Tell them that they are stupid because two-thirds means two-thirds of 222 (seats) not of those present in the house. Bodoh (they are stupid)!” an irate Nazri told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

According to Article 159 (3), a Bill to amend the Federal Constitution cannot be passed by Parliament unless it has been supported on the second and third reading by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the total number of MPs.

The theory was circulated among some Pakatan MPs this morning after they learned of a motion, that will be debated tomorrow, to suspend Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor), Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) and R Sivarasa (PKR-Subang) for six months.

They are accused of breaching Standing Orders 85, by leaking information on the Rights and Privileges Committee’s recommendation that Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim (PKR-Permatang Pauh) be suspended for six-months.

Anwar was found guilty of misleading the house when he told the Dewan Rakyat that public relations firm Apco Worldwide - which advises the Najib administration - of having links with the Zionist regime.

Minimum 148 votes required

During a press conference this morning, Rasah MP Anthony Loke claimed that this was an elaborate ploy by BN to amend the Federal Constitution and possibly carry out a exercise to re-draw electoral boundaries.

Bukit Gantang MP Nizar Jamaluddin shared similar sentiments on micro-blogging site Twitter .

When told of this, Nazri, who is the de facto law minister and also the minister in charge of Parliamentary affairs, broke into laughter.

“(In the past), if we want to amend the constitution and all that, we had to carry (MPs) out of the hospital and those who are sick just to vote... that’s why (I said) we need two-thirds of the 222,” he said.

A least 148 votes in the Dewan Rakyat are required to constitute a two-thirds majority. BN currently controls 137 seats and is believed to have the support of six independents including Pasir Mas MP Ibrahim Ali and five who resigned as PKR members this year.

Pakatan has 76 MPs. Two other opposition parties Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and Malaysian Socialist Party (PSM) control two and one seats respectively.

If we're 'brutes', they are 'tyrants'

On Karpal’s claims that BN was using “brute force of the majority” its Bills, Nazri retorted that Pakatan MPs practiced “tyranny of the minority”.

“Knowing that BN is always cautious and may be blamed for victimising them if we use our so-called majority (force) - they will say anything in House.

“They will lie and insult the speaker - this is the tyranny of the minority because they think we are scared to take action (and be perceived as a) brute majority.

“They know we are scared and they do anything want - they think they are immune - that’s why they are taking advantage. They are like tyrants in there and they no one is brave enough to stop them,” he blasted.

He explained that the move to censure Karpal, Sivarasa and Azmin was done because they were in contempt of the House.

“They revealed privileged information which should not be revealed before the report is tabled. Clear cut act of contempt so why shouldn't we (suspend) them. Under Standing Orders 27(1) you need to give only one day notice and that’s why we did it today,” said Nazri.

Quizzed on why the government tabled the motion at the tail-end of the Dewan Rakyat sitting, Nazri said that this was among the last agenda items because the Budget 2011 was the priority.

“There is no appropriate time to do this. (There is no) time when it will not badly affect us. But we cannot use this as a factor. The most important thing is that we enforce the Standing Orders.

“Do not think that just because they believe this decision would hurt BN, that we do not have the resolve or that we are not resolute enough to take this action,” he said.