AG says Umno’s withdrawal of support outside Parliament has no legal impact on Muhyiddin
Tan Sri Idrus Harun said the decision on whether an individual commanded the confidence of the majority of MPs must be determined by the MPs themselves in accordance with Article 43(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution. ― Picture by Azinuddin Ghazali
KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 — There is no clear indication to prove Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has lost the confidence of the majority of MPs to date, Attorney General Tan Sri Idrus Harun said in the wake of Umno’s immediate withdrawal of support earlier today.
Instead, Idrus said the decision on whether an individual commanded the confidence of the majority of MPs must be determined by the MPs themselves in accordance with Article 43(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution.
“In referring to the media statement issued by the Umno President dated July 7, the statement is a statement from a component party that formed the existing government appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as stipulated under Article 43(1) and (2) of the Federal Constitution.
“In accordance with Article 43(2)(a), the determination of whether someone commanded the confidence of Members of Parliaments must be decided by Members of Parliaments themselves and not through a statement issued by a political party or leader.
“Therefore, in legal terms, the Prime Minister and the existing Cabinet of Ministers are to remain as it is to continue exercising its federal executive powers,” he said.
The Umno supreme council meeting last night concluded at 12.45am with an agreement for the party to withdraw its support for Muhyiddin.
Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party was withdrawing support purportedly because the Muhyiddin administration had failed to meet seven conditions it set last year.
Instead, Idrus said the decision on whether an individual commanded the confidence of the majority of MPs must be determined by the MPs themselves in accordance with Article 43(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution.
“In referring to the media statement issued by the Umno President dated July 7, the statement is a statement from a component party that formed the existing government appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as stipulated under Article 43(1) and (2) of the Federal Constitution.
“In accordance with Article 43(2)(a), the determination of whether someone commanded the confidence of Members of Parliaments must be decided by Members of Parliaments themselves and not through a statement issued by a political party or leader.
“Therefore, in legal terms, the Prime Minister and the existing Cabinet of Ministers are to remain as it is to continue exercising its federal executive powers,” he said.
The Umno supreme council meeting last night concluded at 12.45am with an agreement for the party to withdraw its support for Muhyiddin.
Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party was withdrawing support purportedly because the Muhyiddin administration had failed to meet seven conditions it set last year.
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MM Online:
PMO denies Muhyiddin meeting Agong today after Umno withdraws support
Two local news outlets, Utusan Malaysia and Malaysia Gazette, had earlier claimed on Twitter that the prime minister is expected to meet the King later today. — Picture by Shafwan Zaidon
KUALA LUMPUR, JULY 8 — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is not having a meeting with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong today following Umno’s withdrawal of support, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said this evening.
Two local news outlets, Utusan Malaysia and Malaysia Gazette, had earlier claimed on Twitter that the prime minister is expected to meet the King later today.
“Not true,” the PMO responded when contacted for clarification.
Earlier today, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who leads the country’s largest party, Umno, declared its withdrawal of support for Muhyiddin who is from Bersatu.
According to Ahmad Zahid, Umno’s supreme council is withdrawing support on account of the Bersatu leader’s purported failures in handling the Covid-19 health, economic, and political crises.
The Bagan Datuk MP urged Muhyiddin to act honourably and relinquish his post and allow the appointment of an interim prime minister to handle the current pandemic and subsequently advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to accede for a general election be called.
The supreme council meeting and Ahmad Zahid’s statement came on the heels of Muhyiddin’s surprise promotion of two Umno lawmakers, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, as deputy prime minister and senior minister respectively.
However, Attorney General Tan Sri Idrus Harun has said that Zahid’s declaration has no legal impact on Muhyiddin and his government since it was made outside of Parliament.
Instead, Idrus said the decision on whether an individual commands the confidence of the majority of MPs must be determined by the MPs themselves in accordance with Article 43(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution.
He added that Muhyiddin and his Cabinet have the legal right to govern the country for now.
Two local news outlets, Utusan Malaysia and Malaysia Gazette, had earlier claimed on Twitter that the prime minister is expected to meet the King later today.
“Not true,” the PMO responded when contacted for clarification.
Earlier today, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who leads the country’s largest party, Umno, declared its withdrawal of support for Muhyiddin who is from Bersatu.
According to Ahmad Zahid, Umno’s supreme council is withdrawing support on account of the Bersatu leader’s purported failures in handling the Covid-19 health, economic, and political crises.
The Bagan Datuk MP urged Muhyiddin to act honourably and relinquish his post and allow the appointment of an interim prime minister to handle the current pandemic and subsequently advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to accede for a general election be called.
The supreme council meeting and Ahmad Zahid’s statement came on the heels of Muhyiddin’s surprise promotion of two Umno lawmakers, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, as deputy prime minister and senior minister respectively.
However, Attorney General Tan Sri Idrus Harun has said that Zahid’s declaration has no legal impact on Muhyiddin and his government since it was made outside of Parliament.
Instead, Idrus said the decision on whether an individual commands the confidence of the majority of MPs must be determined by the MPs themselves in accordance with Article 43(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution.
He added that Muhyiddin and his Cabinet have the legal right to govern the country for now.
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