Anwar meeting Agong on Tuesday to try to form a backdoor government
Under Malaysia’s system of Constitutional Monarchy, said His Majesty Tuanku Abdul Rahman, the Agong cannot sack the Prime Minister but the Prime Minister can sack the Agong.
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin
His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah has finally granted Anwar Ibrahim an audience.
Anwar will be meeting His Majesty the Agong on Tuesday to try to form a backdoor government with what he says is a “strong and convincing” majority of MPs who have agreed to support him to form a new government.
If Anwar really has the 121 or 132 MPs that he claims he has, this will mean Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s government will technically fall.
The Agong can appoint the Prime Minister but His Majesty cannot sack the Prime Minister
Muhyiddin can then also request an audience with His Majesty the Agong to either submit his resignation as Prime Minister or seek His Majesty’s consent to dissolve Parliament to make way for GE15, like what Shafie Apdal did in Sabah recently (and which Pakatan Harapan supported).
It is the prerogative of His Majesty the Agong whether to consent to the dissolution of parliament or not. If His Majesty does not want GE15 to be called due to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic crisis, then His Majesty can appoint a new prime minister who His Majesty feels can command the confidence of the majority of the House.
His Majesty may summon all 222 MPs and interview them individually one-by-one to determine who they support as PM9. Depending on what the 222 PMs have to say, the candidate for PM may or may not be Anwar.
The other alternative could be for Anwar to table a resolution for a vote of no confidence to be passed in Parliament. On the other hand, Muhyiddin can table a resolution for a vote of confidence to be passed in Parliament.
The first Agong, the first Prime Minister, and MacGillivray outside the King’s House in Kuala Lumpur after signing the Merdeka Agreement on Aug 5, 1957
Finally, of course, the power lies in the hands of His Majesty the Agong whether to layan Anwar or not. The Agong can appoint the Prime Minister but His Majesty cannot sack the Prime Minister. This was confirmed by the first Agong, His Majesty Tuanku Abdul Rahman, regarding the position of the first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman.
Under Malaysia’s system of Constitutional Monarchy, said His Majesty Tuanku Abdul Rahman, the Agong cannot sack the Prime Minister but the Prime Minister can sack the Agong.
