MALAYSIA PARLIAMENT ORDERS SILENT ON NO CONFIDENCE VOTE

KUALA LUMPUR - There is no Standing Order that specifically spells out how to table a motion of no confidence against the prime minister in Parliament, says Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia(photo).

"The Standing Orders come under Article 62 of the Constitution and Parliament has the right to make its own procedures.

"There is nothing in the procedures defining it (a motion of no confidence)" the Parliament Speaker said after officiating the General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliament here on Monday.

He chided Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang(photo) for saying last Thursday that there was room for him to allow such a motion.

The procedure to move a motion in the House requires written notice to be given to the Parliament Secretariat during office hours.

For a motion moved by a member of the Cabinet, seven days notice is required (14 days for a private bill).

Any MP may apply to raise an emergency motion in Parliament to discuss any matter of public importance.
However, this still requires a 24-hour notice and a 300-word submission to the Speaker on the matter to be raised.

The Speaker has full discretion to reject the application unless it is a matter of "definite, urgent and of public importance".

The Speaker usually decides an application in chambers, and any proposed motion rejected by him cannot be raised in Parliament again.

Source: AsiaOne