PN government still valid, strong from legal standpoint - Constitutional expert

KUALA LUMPUR: The Perikatan Nasional (PN) government led by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is still seen as valid and standing firm.

Constitutional expert, Associate Professor Dr Shamrahayu Abd Aziz, said although some politicians have stated their withdrawal of support for Muhyiddin, it cannot be regarded as a true testimony of support as such statements did not comply with the legal process.

“In the legal process, there must be 'rule of law'. So, how can someone say the government has fallen? Everyone can say the government has fallen, has lost faith in the Prime Minister.

“But do the statements comply with the legal process because the fall of the government is based on the legal process. It is not just talk.

"But there is no legal evidence," she told Astro AWANI on Monday.

Dr Shamrahayu added that if it is only based on politicians' statements claiming that the government has collapsed due to the loss of majority, then it is easy for any government in the world to be overthrown.

She also said such a statement confuses the people as according to the law, the government has not yet fallen.

"From what we have now, the confidence of the majority is still there. Thin or thick, a few or a lot - that is not a legal problem.

"Even if it is (a majority of) one, it is still considered a majority. But if it is legally proven that the support of the majority has moved to another party, then it is in line with the legal process.

"To me, people who respect the law have no problem accepting the rule of law," she said.

Astro AWANI on Saturday reported that Machang Member of Parliament, Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub, in a press conference in Kota Bharu, withdrew his support for the PN government.

With the withdrawal of Ahmad Jazlan, who is also the Kelantan UMNO Liaison Chairman, the PN government currently has the support of 110 out of 220 MPs in the Dewan Rakyat.