Golden Opportunity if Pak Lah Resigns - MPs can determine new PM - Anwar? Najib? Kit Siang? (Updated)

If Abdullah Ahmad Badawi resigns as Prime Minister, then it will be a great opportunity for the MPs to choose the next Prime Minister, and for the "Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall first appoint as Perdana Menteri (Prime Minister) to preside over the Cabinet a member of the House of Representatives who in his judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House.."(Art.43(2)(a) Federal Constitution)

There is no such thing in our constitution that the current PM can hand over to his chosen successor.

Remember Art. 43(4)

If the Prime Minister ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the House of Representatives, then, unless at his request the Yang di-pertuan Agong dissolves Parliament, the Prime Minister, shall tender the resignation of the Cabinet.

Once Abdullah Ahmad Badawi resigns, that means the door opens for Anwar Ibrahim or Mohd Najib Razak or Muhyiddin or any other to show that they do (or are likely to) command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House" - and the Yang di-pertuan Agong can proceed to appoint a new Prime Minister...

So, irrespective of whether PM resigns now or in March 2009 or in June 2010, the door flies open for a new Prime Minister, one who has the confidence of the majority of the Members of Parliament - not the confidence of the majority of the members of UMNO, not the confidence of the majority of the members of BN...

But many believe that Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will not relinquish power...

Sabah Progressive Party President Yong Teck Lee does not think that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will relinquish the Umno presidency without a fight - as many political pundits have predicted.

"The reasons being that he has the majority support of Umno members and the people of Malaysia who have voted for BN and he has a comfortable majority in Parliament," Yong was quoted as saying by Bernama. - Malaysiakini, 8/10/2008, Sapp's Yong: PM won't give up top post

About 30 Umno supporters gathered outside the Prime Minister’s official residence here on Wednesday, urging Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to remain in office.

Carrying posters of Abdullah, they waited from 7.30am until 9.30am, when the Umno president left home for the weekly Cabinet meeting.

Abdullah stopped his motorcade briefly to greet them, and shook hands with some of them. - Star, 8/10/2008, Supporters provide moral support for Abdullah

In a posting on his blog, Umno leader Ruhanie Ahmad said the meeting, which started at about 11pm, was held at the prime minister’s official residence in Putrajaya.

Ruhanie, a former Backbenchers Club (BBC) chairperson, said some 200 supporters had attended the meeting, including staunch supporters of Umno vice-president Mohd Ali Rustam, who is set to contest the No 2 post himself.

“Abdullah is expected to announce his decision to stay on at the BN special supreme council meeting scheduled for 3.30pm today. I hope this information will become reality in line with the spirit and practice of democracy in Umno,” read the posting. - Malaysiakini, 8/10/2008, Abdullah - will he now stay or go?

Anil Netto is doing a poll in his blog, and the current results show that between Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Mohd Najib Razak, the overwhelming majority prefers Abdullah Ahmad Badawi..

Between Abdullah and Najib, who would you prefer as PM?

• Not sure/Neither (66%, 510 Votes)
• Abdullah (33%, 251 Votes)
• Najib (1%, 10 Votes)

Total Voters: 771 - http://anilnetto.com/

But, as I said earlier, if the PM resigns --- then it is the MPs who will decide on the next Prime Minister - not the UMNO...not the BN...certainly not Abdullah Ahmad Badawi...

I see that moves by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah towards a formation of a 'Unity Government' may all be moving towards this...

Remember the person who desire to be the next PM must "...command the confidence of the majority of the members of the House of Representatives..." - therefore your Political Party or affliations matters not...

Oh yes - remember that there is nothing a political party can do about an MP of that party voting in a particular manner save for maybe expelling him from the said political party. He/she still remains the Member of Parliament..or ADUN...until the next General Elections or until he/she resigns...

Power will effectively be in the hands of the Members of Parliament...as to who will be the next Prime Minister... (noting of course, it is the King that appoints...)