MPs engaged in heated exchanges during the Dewan Rakyat meeting which ended today.
The confidence of the legislature in the governing party or coalition lies at the heart of a responsible government. This requires that the Cabinet is responsible for its actions to an elected legislature. A government holds office by virtue of its ability to command the confidence of the legislature, chosen by the electorate in a general election.
The effect of a vote of no confidence is to remove the authority to govern from the government. The government either resigns and a new administration is formed or there is a dissolution of Parliament and a general election.
The speaker’s argument ignores this principle that the government has no authority to continue government business if it has ceased to command the confidence of the majority of the house. Government business therefore, cannot be a reason for not tabling the motion of no confidence.Secondly, this interpretation puts the Standing Orders, which is a piece of subsidiary
The speaker’s contention cannot be correct. Such an interpretation allows a government which has no authority to govern to hold on to power with impunity. This contention not only offends the fundamental principle of parliamentary democracy, it leads to a perverse result.Thirdly, the speaker’s interpretation completely ignores the fact that motions of no confidence are not written into any statute or standing order.