Umno's Ku Li to snub Budget 2021 debate, questions Muhyiddin's legitimacy
Umno's Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah won't participate in the Budget 2021 debate as long as Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun refuses to allow a test of confidence on Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's Perikatan Nasional government.
Tengku Razaleigh conveyed his intention in a letter dated Nov 19 to Azhar and criticised the Dewan Rakyat speaker's refusal to allow a no-confidence motion.
"As the legitimacy of the government has not been decided yet, I am bound by my conscience on the oath I have taken and, therefore, cannot participate in the debate on the budget," the veteran leader said in his letter.
Tengku Razaleigh also warned about the use of "political corruption" in attempting to help a government to cling on...
Umno's Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah won't participate in the Budget 2021 debate as long as Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun refuses to allow a test of confidence on Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's Perikatan Nasional government.
Tengku Razaleigh conveyed his intention in a letter dated Nov 19 to Azhar and criticised the Dewan Rakyat speaker's refusal to allow a no-confidence motion.
"As the legitimacy of the government has not been decided yet, I am bound by my conscience on the oath I have taken and, therefore, cannot participate in the debate on the budget," the veteran leader said in his letter.
Tengku Razaleigh also warned about the use of "political corruption" in attempting to help a government to cling on to power.
"To participate in the Dewan Rakyat on the question of the budget without first establishing the prime minister's and his ministers' legitimacy is to compromise on an important constitutional principle which will have serious consequences on the upholding of our constitution, the rule of law and the possible use of political corruption to maintain power in conflict with the constitution.
"It is my considered view that 'political corruption' by its very nature can be described as the 'worm in the bud' that will destroy our constitutional system of democracy from within.
"The opinion in the public domain is that 'political corruption' and money is destroying the soul of our nation and our political system," he said.
Tengku Razaleigh's latest letter was in response to Azhar who last month said he cannot allow a no-confidence motion against the government to take precedence over government matters.
He also made a similar argument in a letter to Tengku Razaleigh in September.
This was after Tengku Razeleigh on Sept 25 urged Azhar to allow a no-confidence motion against Muhyiddin to be debated in the Dewan Rakyat.
Azhar instead suggested that Tengku Razaleigh seek the consent of de facto Law Minister Takiyuddin Hassan for the no-confidence motion to be tabled.
Tengku Razaleigh, in his latest letter, dismissed the suggestion.
"It is my view that the minister of law has no role whatsoever in determining whether a vote of confidence of the Dewan Rakyat can be tabled.
"To suggest that such an important issue is subject to the agreement of the minister of law is unconstitutional and a serious breach of the autonomy and independence of the Dewan Rakyat from any form of control by the executive," he said.
Tengku Razaleigh did not indicate whether he will participate in the budget vote even though he won't be part of the debate.
However, his push for a no-confidence vote on a government that is trying to avoid one does not bode well for Muhyiddin.
At present, the premier commands the support of 112 MPs in the 222-member Dewan Rakyat.
However, there are only 220 MPs at present following the death of a government and opposition MP.
Without Tengku Razaleigh's support, Muhyiddin's MPs will be down to 111.
Even though Umno is part ofn Muhyiddin's PN government, some of its MPs have been rattling him to extract a new deal.
It is unclear if they will follow through with the threat during the budget vote which will take place as early as Nov 26.
If the House sees full attendance and MPs vote along partisan lines, it will only take two more government MPs to turn for the Budget 2021 to be defeated.
The vote is crucial for Muhyiddin as it is also a proxy confidence vote.
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