.jpg "Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Pandikar Amin Mulia speaks at a press conference at his residence in Bukit Tunku, May 19, 2015. u00e2u20acu201d Picture by Choo Choy May")
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — The opposition should first submit a list of MPs willing to support a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to establish if the move has enough traction for a debate, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia said today.
Pandikar said the list would give him leverage to pressure Putrajaya to agree to having the motion tabled and debated, especially if the numbers go beyond the 89 seats occupied by the opposition.
“For now, I’m still waiting for the list from the opposition to be submitted because as far as I know they only have 89 people.
“Because if they have 90 or 100, maybe I can pressure the government into debating it (the motion),” he told reporters when met at the Parliament lobby.
Pandikar, however, echoed the suggestion by Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club Chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Samad for those seeking to vote out the prime minister to simply not support Budget 2016 which will be tabled this Friday.
“Why is a separate motion necessary? Like Shahrir said before, this can be done during budget. If you don’t support the budget, it is like a vote of no confidence,” he added.
Pakatan Harapan confirmed on Monday that Dr Wan Azizah will be filing a notice to Parliament on the no confidence motion against Najib some time this week.
The motion is to replace a previous one filed by PKR MP Hee Loy Sian.
Hee’s motion, which was filed over a week ago, is currently listed as the 27th item out of 28 in the motions for debate yesterday.
