KUALA LUMPUR – Bukit Gantang MP Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal, the latest Bersatu politician to declare support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, said he had “grown tired” of Perikatan Nasional (PN) leadership’s reluctance to negotiate with the federal government.
Syed Abu Hussin said that after a year of being elected, he had been calling for PN to seek allocations, but when the government invited them for negotiations, they refused.
Asked why they refused to negotiate, he said the PN leadership claimed that the government imposed strict conditions.
“But when asked, they refused to state what those strict conditions were. The leadership should detail the negotiations, hold a press conference to declare what the government agrees and disagrees with. Let the people know if there are indeed tough conditions,” he said.
“I want to open the eyes of the people and also broaden the minds of the opposition to prioritise the interests of the people.”
He made these remarks in an interview on the SkopMG programme organised by MalaysiaGazette yesterday evening.
Syed Abu Hussin also criticised the opposition MPs, stating that their role as representatives is not to quarrel and insult each other rudely in Parliament but to voice the concerns of the people in their constituencies.
“My constituency is rural, the people are struggling, roads are incomplete, so if the situation continues like this for another four years, what can I do to help the people?
“If a house is on fire, I can only offer RM500. Before this, I could offer more. So, for a year, I’ve been waiting – but I can’t do anything,” he explained.
“Listening to the prime minister’s speech, I feel sincerity, so why don’t we give it a try?
“We want to compete and argue in the elections, but it’s too early to wait for another four years,” Syed Abu Hussin added.
He also said that the behaviour of MPs quarrelling rudely in Parliament could make the people lose faith in the country’s political system.
“This is not a time of war – it’s a time for negotiations to help the people, and to help the government reduce the cost of living. Not just to speak in Parliament with rudeness, no points, just insults and so on.
“This is not a good example for the people. Over time, people get fed up with politics. We can see this in the voter turnout,” he said.
When asked if he would vacate his seat in the Bukit Gantang, Syed Abu Hussin replied that he would serve as long as needed.
“I am not violating the party constitution, the party does not prohibit (declaring support for the prime minister). If the party prohibits it, they can expel me, that’s the first thing.
“In the 14th general election, some prominent figures in Bersatu also left the party. Umno also asked them to vacate their positions, why didn’t they do so? Why should it come to me being vacated?
“I will continue to serve the people as long as I am needed in Bukit Gantang,” he said.
He also said he would continue to serve the people regardless of the party because it is just a platform to help the people.
“When I declared support for Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to become the prime minister at that time, I was an independent MP.
“The important thing is my service to the people – regardless of the platform. If they want to expel me, it’s okay, but if they want me to stay, it’s (also) okay,” he said.
On November 28, Syed Abu Hussin became the fifth opposition MP to declare support for Anwar, following Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), and Zahari Kechik (Jeli). – November 30, 2023