Tuesday, June 24, 2008

TUESDAY-24TH JUNE 2008- NO SHOW, NO MOTION

No show , no motion
Much anticipated vote of no-confidence fails to take place in Parliament


KUALA LUMPUR:

The much anticipated vote of no-confidence against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to be supported by Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) led by Datuk Yong Teck Lee failed to take place in yesterday’s Dewan Rakyat sitting. The sitting only saw the tabling of one motion on the hike in fuel and goods prices tabled by Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad. The motion is being debated by Members of Parliament. Shahrir replied to points raised by MPs on the motion before the sitting adjourned yesterday. As this report was being written, the two SAPP MPs - Datuk Eric Enchin Majimbun (BN-Sepanggar) and Datuk Dr Chua Soon Bui (BN-Tawau) - whom Yong said would support the no-confidence motion, were not in the house. When contacted, Eric, who is also SAPP Deputy President, said he had to return to Sabah to pay his last respects to a relative who had died. Dr Chua, a party Vice-President, could not be reached for comments. Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the Speaker’s Office did not receive any motion to move a no-confidence vote against the Prime Minister. Instead, DAP Adviser and MP for Ipoh Timur Lim Kit Siang submitted a notice to the Speaker’s Office on Sunday for an emergency motion to discuss the latest allegation on the murder of Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu. Under Standing Order 18 (1), a motion must be sent to the Speaker’s Office 24 hours before it can be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat sitting and whether the motion can be tabled or otherwise, it is up to the Speaker’s discretion. The Speaker will consider the notice for the emergency motion on three grounds - the issue is specific, of public interest and urgent. He has the power to reject a motion if it does not fulfill one of the three grounds. -Bernama