Hamzah: Confidence vote next if speaker blocks motion to censure PM

Opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin has said any move to file a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will be dependent on Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul’s decision on a separate motion against the Tambun MP.

Speaking to reporters in Parliament, Hamzah referred to a July 24 motion by Perikatan Nasional chief whip Takiyuddin Hasan to refer Anwar to the Parliamentary Rights and Privileges Committee over the latter’s remarks concerning Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the Pulau Batu Puteh issue.

“When we want to do something, we already have the steps in place.

“First, we’ve referred YB Tambun (Anwar) to the Rights and Privileges Committee. Now we want to see what the speaker’s response will be,” said the Larut MP.

“Then only will we proceed with the next one. We can’t skip this step because we want to do that first,” he added.

Last month, Anwar, a day after some 25,000 people gathered in Kuala Lumpur for the “Turun Anwar” rally, dared Hamzah to go ahead and table a motion of no confidence in the Dewan Rakyat.

His call was made in response to Hamzah, who had reportedly hinted at the rally, “Wait. We will do it later. Why would we reveal it (when we want to table)?”

‘Investigation ongoing’

Earlier in the Dewan Rakyat, Johari, who presided at the start of debates on the 13th Malaysia Plan, was faced with requests for updates on motions submitted to seek his rulings on various matters.

Among others, Takiyuddin referred to his July 24 motion on Anwar, to which Johari said the matter is still under investigation.

“As Kota Melaka has raised his motion, I’d like to remind the speaker that I also submitted one - on July 24 - to refer Tambun to the Committee of Rights and Privileges over his statement on the Batu Puteh RCI (royal commission of inquiry),” said the Kota Bharu MP.

“The investigation is ongoing… It’s a long process,” replied Johari.

To this, Hulu Terengganu MP Rosol Wahid interjected, “So we’ll only know the outcome after this session ends?” and Johari responded with a smile, “Don’t question my sincerity.”

Takiyuddin, in his motion, cited Anwar’s remarks in the Dewan Rakyat on July 22 that the cabinet decided not to pursue legal action against Mahathir over the Pulau Batu Puteh issue due to his old age, despite saying that the former prime minister was “wrong”.

Takiyuddin at the time claimed Anwar’s comments had misled the house as the power to initiate or drop charges against individuals is held by the attorney-general, not the prime minister.

Reporting by Alyaa Alhadjri, Qistina Nadia Dzulqarnain, B Nantha Kumar

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