KUALA LUMPUR (May 8): Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof has allowed a motion for a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The motion was filed by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and former law minister Datuk Liew Vui Keong, according to a statement by Mohamad Ariff today. 

However, a motion by Dr Mahathir to allow the current speaker to be retained until the dissolution of Parliament was rejected by Mohamad Ariff.

“As the Yang di-Pertua of the Dewan Rakyat, I have to ensure all motions filed adhere to the rules of the meeting as, in my opinion, it is part of observing the laws.

“In this matter, whatever consideration and decision made by the Yang di-Pertua of the Dewan Rakyat must be fair, and ensure the integrity of the Dewan Rakyat and Parliament is protected,” he said.

The Dewan Rakyat is scheduled to sit for one day on May 18 — its first since the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan coalition. 

Liew, in his motion, also proposed for the sitting to be extended to eight days. Mohamad Ariff, in his statement, did not elaborate on whether this will be allowed in the next sitting.

According to the statement, Mohammad Ariff also disallowed motions for a vote of confidence on Dr Mahathir, who is also the Langkawi Member of Parliament (MP), having the support of the majority of MPs in the Dewan Rakyat.

This motion was filed by Liew as well as Semporna MP and Parti Warisan Sabah president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal. 

Shafie’s motion, said Mohamad Ariff, was rejected because it was not in line with Article 43 of the Federal Constitution.