Spectacular own goal in numbers game - Zuraida scorches Harapan

 

As the numbers game for Putrajaya intensifies, Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin noted that Pakatan Harapan has committed a massive blunder.

She said the coalition’s statement urging lawmakers opposed to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to back opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim had exposed its smoke and mirrors show.

Describing it as a “spectacular own goal”, the Ampang MP also accused Harapan of endangering the health and welfare of the people with its greed for power.

“This latest statement, publicly begging for support, confirms the opposition has no alternative PM candidate with the necessary support to form a government.

“This open appeal is an act of desperation and proof positive that Harapan simply does not have

the numbers, and has never had the numbers.

“Despite their own inability to form a government, they have been repeatedly and recklessly trying to bring down the current government,” she added in a statement this evening.

Zuraida claimed that Harapan and Anwar sought to undermine a government grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic in the hope of garnering sufficient numbers.

The former Harapan leader also recalled Anwar’s trip to Istana Negara last October to submit purported proof of support for him to become prime minister.

“Nothing came out of that.

“And who can forget that throughout the parliamentary sitting from Nov 2 until Dec 17, 2020, Harapan failed to force a vote on the budget at the policy stage and further failed 27 times to vote down ministry allocations.

“Now, once again, Harapan led by Anwar, attempts to destabilise the government working hard to overcome the pandemic.

“This is an act of breathtaking irresponsibility. Their greed for power has endangered the country and continues to endanger the health and welfare of the people,” she added.

With their statement, Zuraida said, Harapan and Anwar have confirmed that they cannot form a government despite their relentless attacks against Muhyiddin and are “trying their luck at the expense of the rakyat.

“At the risk of repeating myself, I urge everyone, during this unprecedented health crisis, to focus on the welfare of the rakyat instead,” she added.

Questions have been raised regarding Muhyiddin’s legitimacy as prime minister after Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and party lawmakers aligned to him withdrew their support.

The prime minister, whose Perikatan Nasional administration came into power after toppling the Harapan government in a political coup last year, said he would let lawmakers vote on a confidence motion in Parliament next month.

The coup was facilitated by Zuraida and a group of defectors from PKR, including the former vice-president Azmin Ali.

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin, in a televised address this evening, said he cannot step down because nobody else has majority support in the Lower House.

He also urged the opposition to support him with regard to the vote of confidence and promised a slew of reforms. - Mkini