As MPs submitted their statutory declarations to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong today, the race for Prime Minister No. 9 appears to be between Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
However, the contenders must fulfil a new challenge set by the King – the person appointed as prime minister by Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, must go through a vote of confidence in Parliament.
The matter came to light following a statement issued by Istana Negara today.
In the statement, Comptroller of the Royal Household for Istana Negara, Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, said the King, during a meeting with leaders of political parties on Tuesday, had decreed that the prime minister chosen by him, must immediately submit a motion of confidence to validate his position in the Dewan Rakyat.
During his audience yesterday, Al-Sultan Abdullah also reminded the elected representatives that “those who had won, must work together with those who had not”, and that “all parties must work as a team.”
The statement further read: “The Yang di-Pertuan Agong stressed that the statutory declarations (by the MPs) are required to help His Majesty to appoint a member of the Dewan Rakyat who, according to His Majesty’s wisdom, has the confidence of the majority of the Dewan Rakyat as provided under Article 43(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution.”
Ahmad Fadil said the Agong would also chair a special session with the Malay rulers on Friday to discuss current affairs.
Malaysia has seen three prime ministers step down in three years. The quest to appoint a fourth prime minister arose after Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin stepped down as the eighth premier on Monday.
After Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s resignation in 2020, elected representatives presented their choice for Prime Minister, to the King.
This resulted in Muhyiddin being appointed as prime minister as he was the candidate, in the King’s view, who was likely to secure the majority support of the members of the Dewan Rakyat.
However, Muhyiddin’s majority in the Dewan Rakyat was often the subject of contention, which led to his resignation.
Here are Twentytwo13‘s news highlights.
FOUR FULLY VACCINATED PEOPLE AMONG THE 12,993 COVID-19 DEATHS IN MALAYSIA
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah today said the recent clinical audit data analysis on the “breakthrough deaths” showed that of the 12,993 fatalities from Covid-19, 80 (0.6 per cent) had been partially vaccinated, while four (0.03 per cent), had been fully vaccinated.
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, a vaccine breakthrough infection is defined as the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA, or antigen, in a respiratory specimen collected from a person more than 14 days after they had completed all recommended doses.
Malaysia recorded a total of 22,242 cases today, the highest since the pandemic hit the country. This brings the cumulative number of cases to 1,466,512.
NATIONAL DAY PARADE TO GO ON
The National Day celebrations at Dataran Pahlawan Putrajaya on Aug 31 will go on as planned.
Communications and Multimedia Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Mentek said preparations for the celebrations were 80 per cent complete.
Speaking on RTM’s Selamat Pagi Malaysia programme, Mohammad said all participants who are physically involved in the small-scale celebration must be fully vaccinated and must undergo a Covid-19 swab test three days before the full rehearsal.
No spectators will be allowed and all SOPs, including the donning of face masks and adherence to physical distancing rules, would be followed.
The ‘live’ broadcast of the event will begin at 7.30am.
SHUTTLER AARON CHIA EARNS RM50,000 FROM MELAKA GOVT FOR BRONZE MEDAL
National badminton doubles player Aaron Chia received RM50,000 from the Melaka government for his bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Melaka, Tun Ali Rustam, presented the mock cheque to Chia. Also present was Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali.
Aaron and his teammate, Soh Wooi Yik, defeated Indonesian pair Mohammad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan 17-21, 21-17, 21-14 in the bronze medal match.
