KUALA LUMPUR – A Bersatu politician has dismissed a suggestion of appointing Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as opposition leader, saying his current position reflected the coalition’s collective decision-making.
In a statement, Federal Territories Bersatu information chief Mahathir Mohd Rais brushed aside Umno veteran Tan Sri Shahrir Samad’s assertions on the matter, pointing out that PN had made an effort to create “balance” and “harmony” in consultations and reaching a consensus.
“Collectively made decisions often represent various perspectives and can lead to more inclusive and holistic solutions to the challenges at hand.
“From an Islamic perspective, this approach reflects the principle of ‘shura’, which is consultation and mutual discussion in decision-making,” Rais said, as quoted by an English-language publication.
“This shows that Tan Sri Muhyiddin and the leadership of PN value the principles of democracy and collective decision-making in managing political affairs, in line with Islamic values.”
Yesterday, Shahrir said the opposition leader role should not have been given to PN secretary-general, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, following news of four opposition lawmakers declaring their support for the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led unity government.
The former Felda chairman added that the shifts occurred because the lawmakers lacked a leader in Parliament.
“If Muhyiddin, as PN chairman, filled the opposition leader role, he could be able to lead the PN lawmakers in Parliament,” he said in a statement posted on Facebook yesterday.
“The presence of their leader in the frontline of the ‘political war’ in Dewan Rakyat would surely stimulate them.
“This is one reason why parliamentarians in the party are not hesitant in shifting their support to the government. I am sure they were not able to know and get close to Muhyiddin as the party’s highest leader.”
Shahrir said political leadership should be visible in Parliament, and not limited to party-level endeavours.
As such, he added that leaders of the opposition parties – particularly PAS and Bersatu – seemingly do not view the Parliament as an important institution in the nation’s political system, thus becoming a flaw for PN.
Shahrir also pointed out that Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi left the opposition leader role to Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in 2019, despite the former being Barisan Nasional’s (BN) president.
Due to this, Shahrir said it led to internal disorder in Umno and BN, resulting in Muhyiddin appointing Ismail Sabri as the deputy prime minister in 2021.
Recently, four lawmakers from Bersatu declared support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. They are Kuala Kangsar MP Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid, Labuan MP Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman, Gua Musang MP Mohd Azizi Abu Naim, and Jeli MP Zahari Kechik.
Bersatu suspended the memberships of Iskandar and Suhaili in recent weeks, despite them affirming their loyalty to the party.
Meanwhile, Bukit Gantang MP Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal vowed to support Anwar’s leadership, if his constituency is given funding for development.
Following the multiple declarations, Bersatu is set to file a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), while also alleging the agency’s involvement in the matter.
Meanwhile, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil denied claims that the prime minister or Cabinet members were involved in threatening or bribing the MPs to announce their support for Anwar. – November 12, 2023