Motion Of Confidence Will Allow PM To Govern With Clear Mandate

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated that the motion of confidence will allow him to lead the country with a clear mandate based on the majority support of Members of Parliament (MPs). He said the matter was clarified during his recent audience with King Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah. "From a legal aspect, it isn’t needed. The Attorney-General has also said that it isn’t needed because of the clear majority and the powers of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) are also clear. "The King took the views of the AG into consideration and asked whether I felt, as Prime Minister, whether a vote of confidence was needed as there was a clear total as well as declarations from Pakatan Harapan (PH), Barisan Nasional (BN), Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and several other smaller parties. "I replied: Ampun Tuanku, this is not about only regulations and law. The matter has been brought up and I would like to lead the country with a clear mandate, the support of the majority of MPs. I am confident of obtaining it, if I can’t, then I will accept the will of the people,” he said. He made the remarks during his speech at a programme with Muslim preachers at Seri Perdana, Putrajaya on Sunday. The confidence vote for Anwar’s leadership will be one of the main agenda during the First Session of the First Term of the 15th Parliament of Malaysia, scheduled to take place for two days from Dec 19. In his maiden media conference after taking his oath as Malaysia’s 10th prime minister on Nov 24, Anwar said a confidence vote would be tabled at the Parliament sitting on Dec 19 to put an end to any questions of him being prime minister. -- BERNAMA