PETALING JAYA, Aug 5 (Sin Chew Daily) — Political commentators are of the view that the confidence motion scheduled to be tabled in Dewan Rakyat next month will decide Prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s fate.

Even if Muhyiddin survives the motion, he will continue to be ‘harassed’.

They are of the view that Muhyiddin’s move to go through the confidence test in Dewan Rakyat is to buy time.

It will ease the tension between the government and the Palace, offering room for the prime minister to reply the opposition.

“From now till September, time is crucial for politicians to garner support. It will be for or against Muhyiddin without grey area.

Professor James Chin, director of the Asia Institute, University of Tasmania, said as long as Muhyiddin survives the confidence vote, he will have at least five months of ‘peace of mind’. But this does not mean he will be safe till 2023 when the current term expires.

In an interview with Sin Chew Daily, Chin said both sides are garnering for support now.

“Muhyiddin has about seven weeks to win over support from members of parliament,” he said.

Chin believes there would not be any resignation of Umno ministers or withdrawal of support for Muhyiddin.

Most of them would continue to support the prime minister because this would be the best deal to secure their gains.

The latest development highlights Umno’s failure as the party’s main objective of retracting support for the Perikatan Nasional government has been to force Muhyiddin to quit but this does not happen.

Chin said the Dewan Rakyat would decide Muhyiddin’s fate only when the King consented to the confidence vote.

Chin lamented that throughout the entire process, no one asked what the Chinese or the Indians want.

“The Chinese are not part of the process. They have been marginalized and they can’t even choose a prime minister,” he added.

Tang Ah Chai, another political commentator, said the confidence motion in Dewan Rakyat next month is a deferment plan to ease the tension between the government and the Palace.

It also provides room and time for Muhyiddin to shore up his support to remain in power.

Although Umno has retracted its support for Perikatan Nasional, the King does not see that anyone, including the opposition, has secured the majority support.

Tang said the confidence motion would decide whether Muhyiddin has enough support.

“If he has the support, then he will be able to have room and time to consolidate his position as prime minister. But he will still be harassed during the tabling of Budget 2022.f he does not have the support, then he will have to step down,” said Tang.