President  might dismiss the motion The trust debate threatened

The President of Indonesia’s Parliament Wan Muhamad Noor Matha has said he would only place on the house’s agenda a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawtra if the opposition removes any reference to the former premier Thaksin Shinawatra from the motion.

The motion had previously been filed with Mr Wan, who upon review informed opposition leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut that all mentions of Thaksin must be removed.

Referring to Thaksin, who was out of the frame for the debate, would violate regulation No 176 of a parliamentary meeting, said Mr Wan.

Mr Wan reiterated on Sunday that the regulation on meetings prohibits an unnecessary reference to an outsider.

“It’s even forbidden to mention it. However the opposition even includes Thaksin’s name to the motion It will cause uproar and protests in the parliament,” he said.

As the parliament president, there will be responsibility for me on day-to-day basis if I allow the motion to proceed on the name of a foreigner,” he said. It will be the parliament president who will be made a defendant if a defamation case is brought [by an outsider],” he said.

Mr Wan earlier said the outsider would be able to sue lawmakers for defamation if the motion was not revised.

He deemed it unfair that someone who is not parliament would not be able to defend themselves.

Mr Wan also said yesterday that only the president of the parliament has the decision – on a motion will or will not be put on the agenda.

But he said a legal team he consulted told him that any mention of an outsider could create problems.

“If the opposition do not agree to amend the motion [by omitting the name of an outsider], I’m am forced to exercise my power,” Mr Wan said.

Prior to the debate, Parit Wacharasindhu, a list MP and opposition People’s Party spokesman, had objected to Thaksin’s absence at the debate.

The constitution and also parliamentary rules, the argument goes, gives legislative leaders — the house speaker in this instance — the authority to decide what will and what will not be included in a no-confidence motion.

He said that unless a motion had been put forward in a deficient manner, there was no provision that regulation No 176 made amendments necessary.

Mr Parit said the motion could not be changed as it was filed more than seven days ago — the maximum timeline in which amendments can be made. “The House Speaker does not have the authority to order a revision in this instance,” he said.

The censure motion — which concerns only a target on Ms Paetongtarn — also alleges that Thaksin has interfered with his daughter’s government.

The no-confidence debate — which the government hopes to limit to a single day, in contrast to the opposition, which called for five days of discussion — will be held at the end of the month.

Mr Parit pointed out that Thaksin had admitted meddling in government matters himself.

Separately, political activist Ruangkrai Leekitwattana said he had filed a petition with the National Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate Mr Wan for allegedly violating a code of ethics for political-office holders as well.

Mr Ruangkrai also said that Mr Wan’s actions could serve the prime minister, who was trying to preclude the no-confidence motion from being included in the parliamentary agenda.

Ms Paetongtarn yesterday dismissed speculation that lobbying was under way to have her father’s name cleared.