No confidence vote enough to remove MB: Dr M

By Regina Lee, NST

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said a vote of no confidence against the Perak menteri besar was enough to remove him. “If the Barisan Nasional is so confident that they have the majority, they can just move for a vote of no confidence as required by the court ruling,” he said.

On Monday, the High Court declared Pas’ Datuk Nizar Jamaluddin the lawful menteri besar of Perak. A stay of execution was granted the next day, reverting the post to the BN’s Datuk Zambry Abdul Kadir.

“It is not good for the world to see us changing a menteri besar every other day. Public musical chairs like this are not very nice,” Dr Mahathir said.

He supported Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s suggestion of talks with Pakatan Rakyat to end the impasse in the state.

He said a snap state election was unnecessary. But he conceded that the “results are a foregone conclusion”.

“I think Pakatan Rakyat will win. That’s my feeling. It is what I gathered after the debacle in Bukit Gantang and talking to other people,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters after giving a speech titled “Malaysia — Today’s Knowledge Economy” at the Cyberjaya-Asia-Pacific Outsourcing Services Post-Event Tour here yesterday.

When asked if it should be up to the voters again to decide the government in Perak, he said the constituents had already decided to vote in people who would defect.

Dr Mahathir was not optimistic of BN’s chances in the next general election. “I hope people have short memories,” he said.