KUALA LUMPUR: The opposition yesterday handed a motion of no-confidence on the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia at his office at Parliament House, here.

The motion was handed over by opposition leader Datin Seri Wan Azizah Ismail together with 14 members of parliament (MPs) from the opposition parties representing the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), PAS and DAP.

When met by reporters after handing over the motion, Wan Azizah, who is also PKR president, said the motion was under Standing Order 18 (1) and (2) which reads “That the august House takes a resolution of no-confidence in the leadership of the YAB Malaysian Prime Minister and his cabinet ministers in the governance of the country because of the erosion of public confidence in the integrity of the government.”

Wan Azizah said the motion was filed following the move by the government to raise the price of fuel recently although the government had promised before the 12th general election that it would not do so.

She said this had resulted in a crisis of confidence in the prime minister and his cabinet ministers.

“The people are facing major crises such as the escalation in the prices of fuel, food and essential goods, as well as the increasing erosion of people’s confidence in the police, Attorney-General and the judiciary as well as the rising crime rate,” she said.

Wan Azizah hoped the motion would be accepted and debated by the members of parliament.

Meanwhile, Pandikar Amin said he would study the motion before deciding whether to accept or reject it.

“I have two or three days to study the motion and will announce my decision on Monday,” he said.

In an immediate reaction, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz said the attempt by the opposition to table the motion would not succeed.

“We will see on Monday,” he said when commenting on Pandikar’s statement.

“The move will not succeed. The other day it was the SAPP (Sabah Progressive Party)…then it was Anwar Ibrahim (Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim)…there has been many attempts…don’t tell me you believe they can do it (move the no-confidence motion),” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said the motion of no-confidence filed by the opposition would continue to affect political stability in the country.

He said the antics of the opposition who were out to create political instability were irresponsible.

“Actually, our political situation is stable and strong, the government has discharged its responsibilities well to develop the country but the opposition think otherwise and continue to speculate,” he said.

Deputy Minister of Federal Territories Datuk M. Saravanan said the motion would not get the support of the MPs.

“No one will support it. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had been given the mandate to administer the country. There’s no reason for them to move the motion. They probably want to divert attention from current issues,” he said.

Last month, the SAPP sprang a surprise by announcing that the party had lost confidence in the Prime Minister and planned to move a motion of no-confidence in Parliament.

However, the proposal was postponed following positive feedback shown by the federal government in tackling the illegal immigrants issue in Sabah.

In Kota Kinabalu, the SAPP said the party would support any motion of no confidence filed against the Prime Minister just days after announcing plans to shelve the no-confidence motion for the time being.

Its president, Datuk Yong Teck Lee, said the party, a Barisan Nasional component member, would support any party in moving the motion. — Bernama