Ex-law minister: PM's motion replacing speaker to dodge no-confidence vote

Former law minister Liew Vui Keong has accused Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin of attempting to replace both the Dewan Rakyat speaker and deputy speaker in an attempt to avoid a no-confidence vote.

"His motion is mala fide (bad faith) with a vested personal interest in its outcome," Liew (above) said in a statement today.

He also urged Muhyiddin to explain his motion to the public and not disregard the separation of powers between the executive and the legislative branch.

Liew said the matter was both "shocking" and "unconstitutional".

Yesterday, Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Nga Kor Ming confirmed that the speaker's office had received Muhyiddin's motion to remove the former and Dewan Rakyat speaker Mohamad Ariff Mohd Yusof (below). 

Nga said the motion has been included in the agenda for the Dewan Rakyat sitting which begins on July 13.

The motion cited Article 57(3), which reads: "During any vacancy in the office of speaker or during any absence of the speaker from any sitting, otherwise than by reason of the House first meeting after a general election, one of the deputy speakers or, if both the deputy speakers are absent or if both their offices are vacant, such other member as may be determined by the rules of procedure of the House, shall act as speaker."

It should also be noted that Muhyiddin's motion did not seek the removal of another deputy speaker, Mohd Rashid Hasnon, who is now allied with the PN federal government.

Muhyiddin's motion to remove the speaker was reportedly received at 4.50pm yesterday afternoon, 10 minutes ahead of the submission deadline.

This motion will become Muhyiddin's first test of support in the Dewan Rakyat since coming into power in March.

In May, Ariff had accepted Langkawi MP Dr Mahathir Mohamad's motion of no-confidence against Muhyiddin (photo). 

It is unknown when this motion can be tabled since government matters almost always take precedence during Dewan Rakyat sittings.

Efforts to replace a sitting speaker mid-term is not without precedence.

In May 2009, Perak legislative assembly speaker V Sivakumar was dragged out of his chair. The House then declared the seat vacant and voted to replace Sivakumar with R Ganesan. 

Following this, the Ipoh High Court ruled that Perak legislative assembly's decision was "conclusive" and "fairly determined" 

More recently, states which saw PN taking over as state governments resulted in the speakers of the respective legislative assemblies stepping down to make way for the election of a new speaker.

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PM submits motion to replace Speaker Ariff, Deputy Speaker Nga

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