Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 23 -- Gua Musang MP, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah will not take part in the debate on Budget 2021 in Dewan Rakyat because he claims that the legitimacy of the present government has not yet been determined.

He made the stand through a letter to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun dated Nov 19, which was received by the media.

‘’Since the legitimacy of the current government has not been decided, I am tied to my conscience and oath of office which I have taken.

‘’Therefore, I cannot take part in the debate on the budget,’’ he said in the letter.

In the letter, Tengku Razaleigh, who is also UMNO Advisory Council chairman, said that by taking part in the debate on the Budget 2021, without ensuring the prime minister and the Cabinet were valid or otherwise in their posts, would adversely affect one of the important principles of the Constitution.

‘’It will lead to adverse consequences  in our effort to uphold the Constitution and defend the rule of law,’’ he said.

On Sept 25, Tengku Razaleigh had sent a letter to Azhar urging for the tabling of a vote of no confidence against the Prime Minister to be given priority for debate in Dewan Rakyat.

Azhar then suggested that the UMNO veteran discussed with the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan for the vote of no confidence to be tabled.

However, Tengku Razaleigh did not agree with Azhar’s suggestion because he was of the opinion that Takiyuddin did not have any role in deciding whether a vote of no confidence could be tabled in Dewan Rakyat.

-- BERNAMA