'Maybe' - says Ku Li on recruiting Umno MPs from PN side

 

As former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Umno's Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah plan for the possibility of the Perikatan Nasional government's collapse, they have indicated that some Umno MPs may turn against the coalition.

Speaking at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today, Tengku Razaleigh, who is also the Umno advisory board chairperson, was asked if he could convince some Umno MPs to join his side, to which he replied with a wry smile: "Maybe."  

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim has also been trying to lobby Umno MPs to defect to the opposition but they have yet to show their hand.

However, the true loyalty of MPs may be revealed tomorrow with the final budget vote during the third reading in the Dewan Rakyat tomorrow.

Tengku Razaleigh, who has branded Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's government as illegitimate, said he will not vote for the budget.

Asked if he was worried about facing disciplinary action for going rogue with the opposition, the veteran lawmaker replied: "Anyone can support whoever they want to support. 

"I am here sharing the same platform with Tun, purely because I want to make sure we have a legitimate government."

At present, Muhyiddin commands the support of 112 MPs in the 222-member Dewan Rakyat. There are also vacancies.

Despite his fragile majority, the divided opposition has struggled to dislodge Muhyiddin.

Three defectors will be enough to bring down Muhyiddin's government but the divided opposition will have to rally behind a common prime ministerial candidate if it takes over.

Mahathir, who advised MPs to choose the new government wisely if Muhyiddin's one falls, added that at present, he was not working with Anwar, who is also the Port Dickson MP.

He said this was because there was no channel of communication with the PKR leader.

"He has no contact with me so I can't discuss with him," the Langkawi MP said. - Mkini