KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat has not received a motion of no confidence against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, said Tan Sri Johari Abdul.
"What I have heard are rumours and just a lot of talk about a motion of no confidence.
"But so far there has been nothing yet," he told reporters after an engagement session with the media on Wednesday (Sept 25).
He noted that such a motion must be submitted to Dewan Rakyat according to procedures.
"If there is to be such a motion, it has to be submitted formally in black and white.
"It can't be done by just a telephone call or through email," he said.
Last Friday (Sept 20), Anwar challenged the Opposition to table a vote of no confidence against him in the upcoming Dewan Rakyat session, which begins Oct 14.
In a fiery speech during Himpunan Keadilan, the Prime Minister said he urged the Opposition to do so to prove allegations that he did not help the rakyat.
Anwar was responding to PAS’s youth wing, which called for Anwar to step down as Prime Minister during their annual general assembly (muktamar) in Temerloh on Sept 12.
Following Anwar's challenge, PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man advised Anwar not to become "frantic" in the face of calls for his resignation.
On Tuesday (Sept 24), PKR vice-president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (pic) said PAS is calling for Anwar's resignation because they feel threatened by his growing popularity.
Meanwhile, Johari said that the six former Bersatu MPs will continue to serve as "Opposition" MPs during the coming Parliament meeting.
"It doesn't matter what has been said about the six.
"They remain as Opposition as they did not apply to be part of the government.
"So, the status quo remains," he said when asked about the fate of the six Bersatu MPs who were said to have lost their party membership for failing to pledge their loyalty to Bersatu.
The six are Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Syed Abu Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanafi (Tanjong Karang), and Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang).
On June 2, the six requested to move their seating positions in Dewan Rakyat and were placed behind independent Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman
On July 10, it was reported that Bersatu planned to take legal action to challenge Johari's decision not to vacate the seats of its six former MPs as notice was sent to the Speaker requesting that the seats be vacated following the MPs' expulsion from their party.
