Malaysian PM Wins Confidence Vote Called to Prove ‘Moral Legitimacy’ of New Government

Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (C) waves as he leaves the lower house of parliament after receiving a vote of confidence in Kuala Lumpur on Dec. 19, 2022. (HASNOOR HUSSAIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Malaysia’s newly-elected Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Monday won a vote of confidence in parliament, a motion brought forward by his own coalition to prove to a defiant rival that he commands the majority to lead the government.

The motion of confidence was debated by 12 members of parliament (MPs) from the ruling and opposition blocs. It was passed through a voice vote as no MPs from either side called for a bloc vote, according to local reports.

Anwar had requested that the vote of confidence be held during the first session of parliament after the opposition bloc led by former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin questioned his leadership’s legitimacy.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Anwar acknowledged that his clear majority does not necessitate holding the confidence vote, but he insisted on doing so to prove the “moral legitimacy” of his government amid the challenges from the opposition.

“I choose to not only look at it from only a legal and constitutional point of view, but also for moral legitimacy,” he was quoted as saying by The Star.

Anwar’s reformist and multi-ethnic Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition won the most seats with 82 in the November general election, but was short of the 112 needed for a simple majority. Muhyiddin’s Malay-centric conservative Perikatan Nasional bloc won 73 seats.

Five days of post-election ensued before Anwar was sworn in as Malaysia’s 10^th prime minister and became the leader of a unity government, following an endorsement by the Malaysian monarch.

MoU Between Coalitions

The coalitions in the unity government—PH, Barisan Nasional, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah—and the Warisan Party signed a memorandum of understanding on Dec. 16 to support his leadership, giving him a two-thirds majority in parliament.

Under the agreement, all signatory coalitions and parties will be required to support Anwar “in all matters of confidence and supply,” including those that may affect the legitimacy of his administration, Malay Mail reported.

Anwar, who is also a Finance Minister, emphasized that the agreement was not about consolidating his power as prime minister but rather on the stability of the unity government and the country’s economic revival.

“I am touched by the trust bestowed on me. With the commitment together, as a strong team, the unity government will allow us to face any problems in and out of the parliament with one voice,” he told reporters.

Opposition Bloc Urged To Move On

Political analyst and professor at Malaysia’s UCSI University, Dr. Mohd Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi, said that there should not be any further attempts to topple the unity government given that Anwar has proven his majority in parliament.

“Enough is enough. Opposition MPs should realize that the people are fed up with their attempts to gain power through the back door,” Tajuddin told local media The Sun on Tuesday.

He urged the opposition parties to support the unity government’s smooth transition to leadership and put the needs of the people first.

“It has the support of the majority of parliamentarians and the government has been making all the right decisions so far. Let them revive the economy and look after the people. The votes showed that MPs in favor of the confidence motion are looking after the people’s interests more than their own,” he added.

Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad (R) chats with deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the finance minister, in Kuala Lumpur on May 11, 1997. (Stringer/Reuters File)

Anwar, 75, was well known as Malaysia’s opposition figure. He served as deputy prime minister in 1993 under ex-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s administration before being fired in 1998. He was jailed for nearly a decade for sodomy and corruption charges, which he claimed were politically motivated.

The country has faced political instability since the collapse of PH in 2020, which was then led by Mahathir, when several of its MPs switched allegiance. Malaysia enacted an anti-hopping law in October to prevent party defection.

Under the new law, MPs who resign from their political party or try to switch political parties while in office lose their seats in parliament. The law does not apply to those who are fired by their party or whose party is dissolved.