THE Perikatan Nasional (PN) government could end up becoming a minority government should more MPs withdraw their support for it, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said.
Chow said the PN government currently holds a small majority in the Dewan Rakyat.
“Any move by Umno will threaten and render a small majority government into a minority government.
“That will be the impact if Umno MPs withdraw their support for PN.
“If there is no vote of no confidence or any of that such, then the government can continue as a minority government.
“The government can continue as a minority government as it is practised in a number of countries,” he explained to reporters at the Padang Kota state constituency service centre in Jalan Arratoon today.
Chow was asked about the possible outcome of the Perikatan Federal Government following the announcement by Barisan Nasional’s Machang MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub that he was withdrawing his support for the PN government led by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Ahmad Jazlan claimed that his withdrawal of support would not result in the collapse of the Perikatan government as it still held 110 seats in Parliament compared to the Pakatan Harapan Plus coalition’s 108 seats.
“A minority government means, despite it not having a majority seat in the State Legislative Assembly or the Parliament, it is still the government.
“This is likely because it (the party) has the most number of seats despite not having a majority; and this party is usually given the right to arrange for a coalition with other parties.
“It can be a loose coalition based on issues or a coalition government.
“Such arrangements can be made,” Chow said, citing an example of the confidence-and-supply agreement (CSA).
It was reported that a CSA is an arrangement in a hung Parliament, in which an Opposition party agrees not to vote against a minority government in votes of confidence or budgetary matters, but reserves the right to oppose other legislation.
“Due to the political situation in the country, this could be the way forward until the Covid-19 situation allows the General Election to be held,” Chow said.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Chan Kok Kuan
Video by Ahmad Adil Muhamad