Not for Mahathir to just had over post to Anwar, says MP
KUCHING: Even if he wants to, Tun Dr Mahathir cannot just hand over his prime minister’s post to PKR advisor and Port Dickson MP Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The post is not his personal/private possession to give away like presenting a birthday gift to someone.
Lest anyone should forget or deliberately disregard, there is a democratic practice for the appointment of Malaysia’s prime minister. And no amount of wishful thinking among Anwar’s supporters can make it a simple act of one leader handing over the post to another.
A man who is quite knowledgeable about the matter, Santubong Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, would like to remind everyone that Article 43(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution gives the power of appointing the prime minister to the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.
It is the Agong who chooses the person that in his judgement is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the Dewan Rakyat (the equivalent of the UK’s House of Commons).
The former federal Natural Resources and Environment Minister reiterated that the position of the prime minister is not the personal possession of the sitting prime minister.
“He only presides over the Cabinet to administer the government. The position does not belong to him privately, nor is it for him to give to anyone else,” he said.
He explained that if the sitting prime minister ceases to command the confidence of the majority of members of the Dewan Rakyat, he may request the Agong to dissolve Parliament and call for fresh election.
“Alternatively, he may inform the Agong that he is going to relinquish his position and request for the appointment of another person as prime minister.
If there is a suitable replacement, the Agong may grant the request. The alternative is to dissolve Parliament to facilitate a new election.
“This constitutional principle must be adhered to and complied with in order to avoid chaos and upheaval in the country. It’s political in nature but the rule of law still applies,” he said.
Currently, Dr Mahathir is the sitting prime minister, and as long as he commands the confidence of the majority of the members of the Dewan Rakyat and he is able and willing to serve then it is his right to continue under that constitutional principle.
The political cum gentleman’s agreement (if there was any) between him and Anwar was a private arrangement that could be realised with sufficient will and creativity, but it still has to be subject to the aforesaid constitutional principle.
