PUTRAJAYA: The Yang di-Pertuan Agong has consented to Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob not undergoing a vote of confidence in Parliament, says Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

       "The Federal Constitution accords the Yang di-Pertuan Agong with powers to appoint a Prime Minister based on who he believes has the majority support and at that time, 114 lawmakers supported Ismail Sabri," he said on Tuesday (Sept 7).

       The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said the vote of confidence was not stated in the country’s system nor the law but it had been done before to show that the Prime Minister had strong support.

       He said the King had met with lawmakers who stated their support for Ismail Sabri and that the minister was of the opinion the MPs would not have changed their stand "in such a short time".

       "So Tuanku has given consent that the vote of confidence for the Prime Minister need not be held," he said.

       The King had earlier decreed that the Member of Parliament chosen to be the next prime minister had to immediately submit a motion of confidence in the Dewan Rakyat to prove he has the confidence of the majority.