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KUALA LUMPUR - Loyal lawmakers rallied behind Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at an emergency meeting Thursday following a call for a no-confidence vote against the premier from within his coalition.
"Nobody (in the coalition) supports this motion. Everyone has rejected this and what has taken place is against the spirit of unity within the coalition.
"This is a collective decision of the Barisan Nasional supreme council," he told reporters after chairing a special meeting of top leaders from 13 of the 14 parties in the Barisan Nasional coalition.
Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Yong Teck Lee made the unprecedented no-confidence call on Wednesday in a serious blow to Abdullah, who has faced pressure to quit since disastrous general elections in March. The SAPP did not attend the gathering.
Abdullah said he would continue to lead the government despite the attempt to topple him.
"I cannot afford to be distracted by issues that keep coming up. I have to be focused with what I have to do. When things like this happen, we have to deal with it," he said.
Abdullah, who is also finance minister, said he would ensure the economy remained stable despite rising political uncertainties over his leadership.
"We have to manage the economy," he said. "This is not something new. I have to accept it. I have my responsibilities. If I keep thinking of people criticising me ... how can I carry out my work."
Malaysian share prices closed 1.3 per cent lower Thursday and broke the 1,200 psychological support level due to heightened political risks and a rise in inflation, dealers said.
Analysts said the move for a no-confidence vote when parliament opens Monday could trigger a ripple effect of dissent within the ruling coalition.
SAPP, which has two members in parliament, said it would decide on Friday whether to quit the coalition. It left open the prospect of joining the opposition alliance led by former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim.
After the March polls that gave the opposition a third of parliamentary seats, Anwar needs to win over just 30 government lawmakers to enable him to form a new administration.
Anwar congratulated SAPP's "bravery," while in a brief response Abdullah said Yong was motivated by personal gain.
But some in Abdullah's dominant United Malays National Organisation said the vote would not "see the light of day" because of parliamentary rules that make it easy for the ruling party to block the motion. - AFP/ir
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