KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has scorned Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s proposal for the government to relinquish the seats of seven Bersatu defectors.
In a sarcastic retort, Anwar suggested that Muhyiddin redirect the challenge to himself, labelling him as the “party-hopping chief” and an expert in the “scheme of things”.
“Why is the ‘kepala parti lompat’ (party-hopping chief) proposing this (vacating of seats)? It’s up to the elected representatives themselves, why ask me?” Anwar asked when met by reporters after an event at the Seberang Prai Tengah district police headquarters.
The prime minister also said that the people were losing their confidence in Bersatu.
Earlier today, Muhyiddin said that the government should vacate the seats of the seven Bersatu representatives who had declared their support for Anwar’s administration, thus returning the mandate to the people.
“I am not talking big, but I am confident that PN could secure bigger wins if by-elections take place,” he said when launching a PN convention for elected representatives.
Last week, Bersatu passed an amendment to article 10 of its party constitution to state that MPs and assemblymen will have their membership automatically terminated if they support any other party or policy not aligned with Bersatu’s position.
The amendment, which is subject to the approval of the Registrar of Societies, came after six Bersatu MPs pledged their support for Anwar, with all of the lawmakers citing the welfare of their constituents and the need for economic stability.
The MPs involved are Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar) and Datuk Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tg Karang).
The party’s Selat Klang assemblyman, Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari, has also announced his backing of Anwar’s government, claiming that the move is a result of PN’s silence against the accusations thrown at the Malay rulers. – March 9, 2024