Muhyiddin, who is also Bersatu president, said it was time for all political parties to set aside their political differences to reset the nation for recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, Bernama reported.
“Political parties, no matter who, BN, PH, or PN, we must find a way together. There must be sacrifices. It’s better if we can cooperate. It isn’t easy, but that’s one way of resolving problems,” the news agency quoted him as saying after attending an Aidilfitri open house by Penang Gerakan today.
Muhyiddin said that other countries abroad had confidence and supply arrangements for their Parliaments and this could be one of the solutions to create a stable government.
“This issue is big. It’s vital for all interested parties who are concerned for the nation’s interest to sit together and form a stable government,” he said, Bernama reported.
However, in a statement quoted by Sinar Harian later, Muhyiddin’s office said the report was inaccurate.
“Tan Sri Muhyiddin did not specifically mention any party but stated that these parties must have a common stance in creating political stability and against kleptocracy. He also stated that he did not want to see kleptocrats in parties like BN returning to full power in the country,” the statement said.
In power without a majority
A confidence and supply agreement in parliamentary systems allows a political party without a parliamentary majority to form a government with the voting support of minority parties on crucial confidence votes and on finance bills.
A government which loses a confidence vote, or whose budget fails to obtain parliamentary approval, is required by convention to resign.
The current government of Ismail Sabri Yaakob has an informal confidence and supply arrangement with Pakatan Harapan, which has agreed not to vote out the government in exchange for certain political reforms.
Ismail’s government has the support of 112 MPs from Barisan Nasional (41), Perikatan Nasional (42), GPS (18), GRS (9) and PBM (2).
PH, with 90 seats, and four independent MPs have agreed to abstain or vote in favour of the government on confidence motions and supply bills.