KUALA LUMPUR — All five lawmakers from Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s party Pejuang have separately filed a motion of no confidence against Mr Muhyiddin Yassin, citing he had lost the confidence of the house.

This is the former Malaysian Prime Minister’s second motion, after his first one in May did not see the light of day in the Dewan Rakyat (the Malaysian Parliament's lower house).

The Langkawi MP filed the motion yesterday to Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun.

The other Pejuang lawmakers have also followed suit in submitting a motion of no confidence.

They are Mr Maszlee Malik (Simpang Rengam), Mr Mukhriz Mahathir (Jerlun), Mr Shahruddin Md Salleh (Sri Gading) and Mr Amirudin Hamzah (Kubang Pasu).

Since their party is yet to be registered, these lawmakers are considered independents.

Mr Maszlee said the decision to file the motions was decided in a meeting yesterday because of Mr Muhyiddin’s failure to handle the Covid-19 pandemic as well over doubts if he had a majority in Dewan Rakyat.

“This decision was taken because of the PM’s failure to govern during the Covid-19 pandemic and also doubts about the PM’s majority,” he said in a statement.

All five lawmakers said their motions should be allowed under the standing orders section 26(1) read together with section 27(3).

Earlier this year, Dr Mahathir’s bid to table a no-confidence vote against Mr Muhyiddin was rejected twice as they were placed at the end of the order paper.

The former Malaysian Prime Minister accused his successor of using his power as incumbent to delay the motion.

Last month, United Malays National Organisation (Umno) veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah sought clarification from the speaker on the status of the motion, saying that the Malaysian Parliament should be allowed to table the no-confidence motion as it was in line with Article 62 of the constitution.

The speaker, however, replied that Dr Mahathir’s motion was not tabled in accordance with the house’s standing orders, which give precedence to government bills.

Mr Muhyiddin’s position looks shaky following claims by People's Justice Party (PKR) president Anwar Ibrahim that he has the support of the majority to form a new Malaysian government.

At the same time, Mr Muhyiddin also appeared to have lost the support of his allies in Umno. THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT