Joint Statement: Muhyiddin should give priority to prove majority confidence in Parliament

We, the undersigned organisations, question Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin’s special television address yesterday that presents seven proposals – an olive branch for cross-party agreement to the opposition parties – only to stay in power under the guise of institutional reform goals. Under the current shakey Perikatan Nasional (PN) regime, this is undoubtedly not the priority in resolving the current political deadlock.

We urge that Prime Minister Muhyiddin hold a special parliamentary sitting next week, before officially reconvening Parliament on September 6, and use the vote of confidence in the Constitution to prove whether he has the majority’s support. If the final result is the loss of majority support, it must comply with Clause (4), Article 43 of the Federal Constitution; Prime Minister Muhyiddin must immediately step down, or seek an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to dissolve the Parliament. However, the Agong can refuse the Prime Minister’s request to dissolve the Parliament.

Since our country’s independence,  there has not been a precedent in which the incumbent prime minister was ousted by a vote of no-confidence. We would like to remind opposition parties that they should not hastily accept any conditions imposed by the Prime Minister when the PN regime is in danger. They should instead establish a constitutional precedent during this political crisis, by urging the Prime Minister who has lost the majority of support to resign immediately or insist on respecting the Federal Constitution and accept the parliamentary motion of no confidence.

If it is proved that Prime Minister Muhyiddin has lost the support of a majority of members of Parliament, the Prime Minister must immediately resign and step down so that a constitutional precedent was established under the framework of our country’s constitutional monarchy system.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin’s so-called seven reform proposals to move closer to cross-party cooperation should not be used as a lifeline to preserve the PN regime, by adhering to the principle of putting the people first. In the end, whoever has the power to lead the nation, any reform agenda must wait for the development of the situation after Prime Minister Muhyiddin accepts the Parliament’s decision, and the political alliance that finally wins majority confidence will reach the consensus of both ruling party and the opposition. This is the proper practice for our government according to the Federal Constitution.

Joint statement initiated by THE KUALA LUMPUR AND SELANGOR CHINESE ASSEMBLY HALL (KLSCAH)

Endorsed by:

1. ANGKATAN BELIA ISLAM MALAYSIA (ABIM)
2. PERTUBUHAN IKRAM MALAYSIA (IKRAM)
3. GABUNGAN BERTINDAK MALAYSIA (GBM)
4. LLG CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
5. UNITED CHINESE SCHOOL COMMITTEES’ ASSOCIATION OF SEL & WP KL.
6. SELANGOR AND KUALA LUMPUR HOKKIEN ASSOCIATION
7. PROJEK WAWASAN RAKYAT (POWR)
8. THE ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATES FROM UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES OF CHINA, MALAYSIA