KOTA KINABALU: A vote of confidence cannot be construed as undermining the King's power to appoint a Prime Minister as that power and discretion ceased to exist when the premier was appointed and sworn in.
United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) secretary-general Nelson W Angang argued that a vote of confidence can and should be tabled in the coming Parliament sitting.
"As such, a motion of confidence (or no confidence) after a Prime Minister had been sworn in is legally a test whether he still commands the majority support because the moment he is sworn in, his decision-making and qualities as a leader would be scrutinised.
"The confidence and support by members of the house could have changed after this. It has nothing to do with undermining the power and discretion of the King," he said in a statement.
Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun had said that a vote of confidence in Parliament was not necessary as it would undermine the King's powers.
Nelson said with respect to the AG's views, his logic would not be the correct understanding and appreciation of the situation.
"In a recent live webinar, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim explained that during an audience with all political party leaders, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong decreed that a vote of confidence must be brought to Parliament.
"The Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong who was also in attendance emphasised that the vote must be the first item on the agenda before the King's opening decree. All leaders of political parties who were in attendance agreed to this," he said.
Nelson added that a test to prove the majority support for a Prime Minister can always be made through a vote of confidence or no confidence in Parliament by the members.
"If we take the view given by the AG that such a motion would undermine the King's power to decide and appoint a Prime Minister, then there will never be a time for a vote of confidence (or no confidence) to be appropriately tabled in Parliament," he said.