Movement to change PM, govt not against law - Rafique

SHAH ALAM - Any movement to change the Prime Minister who is leading the current government is permitted under the law and Constitution.

Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) information chief Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali said this after lodging a police report against senior political secretary to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin for lodging a police report to enable authorities to investigate the ‘Dubai Move’.

The ‘Dubai Move’ is alleged to be a plot to topple the unity government led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Rafique who is also a lawyer said he lodged the report to state that any movement to change a Prime Minister or government or to withdraw the trust and support from a Prime Minister was legal.

“In this police report, I have also stated that Shamsul’s police report was intended to intimidate the people and create a misunderstanding of the law among the public.

“It is also done to undermine the absolute power of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to appoint a new Prime Minister.

“How can changing a Prime Minister who lost the trust of the MPs be considered breaking the law? Especially when the constitution allows for such actions,” he said in front of the Shah Alam district police headquarters, today.

Rafique also explained that the Prime Minister can write a letter to the Dewan Rakyat to request for a special session to be held and the Dewan Rakyat Speaker must convene that session and proceed accordingly.

He said another way was for the Prime Minister to gather all 152 MPs to declare their support for him.

The support, Rafique said was crucial especially now when the country was facing an economic crisis and severe political instability.

Yesterday, after lodging the report at the Putrajaya district police headquarters, Shamsul said the report was a signal to the responsible parties to stop their futile efforts (in the Dubai Move) as it was disrupting the parliamentary democracy system and creating political instability in the country.

He also said that similar reports have been lodged by Angkatan Muda Keadilan (PKR's Youth wing) throughout the country on Monday.