KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23 — In a rare declaration of solidarity with their political foes in Barisan Nasional (BN), all 20 PKR federal lawmakers said today they are willing to support a bipartisan no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in the Dewan Rakyat.
In a joint statement, the lawmakers said recent developments on Malaysia’s political front involving the prime minister have caused much alarm and convinced them that if the concentration of power remains in the hands of just one man, the country will soon turn into a failed state.
“As Members of Parliament, we are duty bound to represent the will and voice of the people, in supporting the removal of Dato Seri Najib Razak as Prime Minister in a vote of no-confidence for the sake of our nation, in order to restore democracy and the moral integrity and independence of our public institutions.
“We will work with all Members of Parliament irrespective of their party to support a no-confidence vote against the Prime Minister,” they said in the statement.
The lawmakers listed, however, four terms in their support for such a vote, including the formation of a transition government to be shared between members of both BN and the opposition once Najib is removed from office.
This transition government, they said, must initiate immediate reforms to ensure free elections, free media and a strengthened parliamentary democracy, as well as establish an emergency economic committee to address concerns on the weakening ringgit, the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the spike in living costs and crony capitalism.
They said an independent royal commission must also be formed immediately to make recommendations to ensure the Malaysia Agreement 1963 is implemented to its full effect.
The lawmakers added that the transition government must be retired within two years of its formation via a general election.
The statement was signed by: Nurul Izzah Anwar (Lembah Pantai), Rafizi Ramli (Pandan), Chua Tian Chang (Batu), Sivarasa Rasiah (Subang), Zuraida Kamaruddin (Ampang), Lee Boon Chye (Gopeng), Datuk Johari Abdul (Sungai Petani), Darell Leiking (Penampang), Fuziah Salleh (Kuantan), Sim Tze Tzin (Bayan Baru), Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong (Wangsa Maju), Mohd Imran Abdul Hamid (Lumut), Wong Chen (Kelana Jaya), William Leong (Selayang), Datuk Fauzi Abdul Rahman (Indera Mahkota), Dr Michael Teo Yu Keng (Miri), Dr Azman Ismail (Kuala Kedah), Manivanan Gowin (Kapar), Hee Loy Sian (Petaling Jaya Selatan) and Gooi Hsiao Leung (Alor Setar).
Former prime minister Dr Mahathir wrote on his blog Thursday that there are a number of Umno MPs who would like to see Najib ousted, but that since they will not like to bring down a BN government, the opposition can only compel Najib from office if they were willing to have another leader from the ruling coalition take over.
On Friday, PKR lawmaker Rafizi Ramli urged 25 MPs from the ruling coalition to join hands with the opposition to form the majority in a vote of no-confidence against Najib.
A simple majority of 112 votes is needed for the motion to be approved.
PKR, DAP and PAS collectively have 88 seats in the 222-seat Parliament.
