I am of the view that it is unnecessary for Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim to table a motion for a vote of confidence when Parliament commences on 19.12.2022 as it is clear now that he enjoys an overwhelming majority in excess of 140 seats.
In fact, it is likely that Pakatan Harapan now has a two thirds majority in Parliament.
Historically, the requirement to have confidence has been guided by constitutional convention which is the case in the United Kingdom and other commonwealth countries.
Boris Johnson survived a vote of confidence in June, 2022 by securing a majority of only 59% of Members of Parliament from his party for him to remain their leader while Theresa May fared better by securing 63% in 2018.
In both cases, it was clear that Johnson and May did not have comfortable majorities and as such, there was a need to test their support by such confidence motions.
No doubt, a vote of confidence ought to be encouraged when there are doubts as to whether a government has the majority in Parliament, for instance when Perikatan Nasional came into power after the Sheraton move.
In that instance, Muhyiddin Yassin ought to have done so as it was unclear if he had the support of at least 112 Members of Parliament and his failure to do so rightly drew considerable criticism in the circumstances.
It is understandable for Anwar to have announced his intention to table a motion of confidence as it was made before Muhyiddin conceded that PH had the numbers on 25.11.2022.
With Muhyiddin’s said concession and confirmation that PN will provide a check and balance to the government by being in the opposition, the need for a vote of confidence by PH does not arise.
It would be better to focus on the budget and prepare thoroughly for the same in the upcoming parliamentary sitting instead of wasting time on a vote of confidence which serves no purpose now.