Why does Annuar Musa believe the Prime Minister should resign immediately?

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Annuar Musa Believes the Prime Minister Should Resign if a Letter Authenticating Loss of Parliamentary Majority is Valid

Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa has stated that the Prime Minister must resign immediately if a letter, purportedly sent to the Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun, genuinely confirms that the Prime Minister no longer commands a majority in Parliament. This assertion is based on the constitutional requirement for a Prime Minister to step down or advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to dissolve Parliament when they lose the confidence of the majority of Members of Parliament. Annuar has called on the Speaker to clarify the authenticity of this letter, emphasizing that such a confirmation would necessitate immediate action according to Article 43(4) of the Federal Constitution.
Constitutional Mandate for Resignation

Annuar Musa's argument hinges on Article 43(4) of the Federal Constitution, which outlines the procedure when a Prime Minister loses the support of the majority in the Dewan Rakyat. According to this constitutional provision, if the Prime Minister ceases to command the confidence of the majority of Members of Parliament, he must tender his resignation or advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to dissolve Parliament. Annuar posits that if the letter in question is authentic, it serves as direct confirmation of the Prime Minister's loss of majority, thereby triggering this constitutional obligation.
Speaker's Role in Authenticating the Letter

The responsibility for clarifying the legitimacy of the letter, which has been widely circulated, rests with the Dewan Rakyat Speaker, Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun. Annuar Musa has explicitly urged the Speaker to address the matter, stating that if the letter is not authentic, it should be unequivocally denied. Failure to do so, in Annuar's view, would represent a dereliction of duty, suggesting a lack of fairness and neutrality and potentially indicating complicity in defending a Prime Minister who has lost his legitimacy.
Palace's Alleged Inquiry into Prime Ministerial Support

Recent reports suggest that Istana Negara, the official residence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, may have formally inquired with the Speaker regarding the extent of support for the Prime Minister among Dewan Rakyat members. This alleged request, reportedly due by August 10, 2021, implies that the Palace itself questions the Prime Minister's claim of maintaining a parliamentary majority. Such an inquiry, described as out of the ordinary, underscores the seriousness of the situation and the potential constitutional ramifications if the Prime Minister's support is indeed found wanting.

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Why does Annuar Musa believe the Prime Minister should resign immediately?

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