MPs who vote against govt considered disqualified, says MoU signed by party chiefs

A memorandum signed by the coalitions that make up Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's government appears to have removed the freedom of individual MPs to vote in the Dewan Rakyat, with political parties told that anyone who does not support government motions will be deemed as no longer being an MP.

According to the memorandum signed by Pakatan Harapan (PH), Barisan Nasional, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and Warisan, all parties must support the prime minister in confidence motions or supply bills as well as in any other parliamentary procedure that could affect the continuity of the government.

It also said the onus was on the parties involved to ensure how their MPs vote, adding that MPs who vote outside party lines will be deemed as disqualified, and their seats declared vacant.

"The party of the MP in question must notify the speaker of the Dewan Rakyat of the vacancy pursuant to Article 49A(1) of the Federal Constitution for the the Election Commission to hold a by-election," the memorandum said.

This comes some three weeks after Anwar was named as prime minister, following days of political stalemate in the aftermath of the 15th general election, where none of the major coalitions secured the simple majority needed to form the government. 

In the aftermath of a deadline for coalition leaders to submit proof of their support, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah reportedly ignored the submission of 115 affidavits from MPs in support of Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin.

Muhyiddin later said he had disagreed with a proposal by the Agong for his coalition to join hands with Anwar to form a "unity government".

The palace later named Anwar as prime minister, with GPS saying it would abide by the royal decree.

The MoU today follows a similar understanding signed in 2021 between former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and then opposition coalition PH.

The MoU had ensured support for Ismail's government in return for several demands by PH, including the introduction of a ban on party-hopping.