As you’d expect, the parliamentary sitting in the Dewan Rakyat today was far from dull. With Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s motion to replace the speaker of the house tabled, MPs were up in arms when only two MPs were allowed to debate the matter within 10 minute timeframe each.

Leading the protests was opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who said “This is a big issue, not a technical issue and I hope the prime minister can hear and answer before the MPs decide by voting. So there is no reason why we should limit it to two people and limit the time,” before adding that this motion is unprecedented.

Regardless of whether or not there was even a need for the speaker to be replaced (there isn’t), the motion was tabled anyway and the outcome was 111 yays to 109 nays, which is literally as close as it can get. If you’re wondering why the numbers make up 220 when there are 222 MP’s, one MP was not present and the other was Deputy speaker Rashid, who was presiding the motion and thus couldn’t vote.

While the motion being passed represents a win for Muhyiddin and his party, it also goes to show just how unstable the ground his position as prime minister is built upon. When the results were announced, MPs could be hurt shouting “janji menang” (so long as we’ve won), whilst one MP was caught on camera saying “kerajaan ni macam ni la” (this government is like this) before gesturing with his hand that it was shaky.

The parliamentary sitting will reconvene again after lunch, where the motion to appoint former Election Commission (EC) chairman Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun and Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said to replace incumbent Speaker Mohamad Ariff and his deputy, Nga Kor Ming will be tabled.