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KUALA LUMPUR - A rebel party in Malaysia's ruling coalition faces expulsion after calling for a no-confidence vote in the prime minister, the national news agency Bernama reported.
The supreme council of the 14-party Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition decided late Thursday to issue a "show-cause" letter demanding the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) explain its actions, Bernama said.
"Because the SAPP's decision is against the BN's spirit and integrity, it is only proper that a show-cause letter be issued to the party," said Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak.
"The BN supreme council will meet to decide the next course of action upon receiving the response from SAPP, and taking into consideration any latest developments," he was quoted as saying.
"The decision will either be in the form of warning, suspension or expulsion or any other form of disciplinary actions," he added.
Parliament convened at the start of this week but so far neither the opposition nor the SAPP, which has two lawmakers in the house, has mounted a no-confidence vote in Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
However, the campaign for a vote was another blow for Abdullah who has faced calls to quit since March general elections that dealt the coalition its worst results in its half-century history.
The SAPP has left open the prospect of joining the opposition alliance led by former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, who has ambitions of forming a new administration with the help of defecting government lawmakers. - AFP/ir
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