Betrayal: MP says Bersatu getting taste of own medicine

As Bersatu makes little inroads in its jockeying for the deputy premiership, an MP remarked that the party is getting a taste of its own medicine after betraying PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and the Pakatan Harapan coalition.

In a statement today, PKR’s Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim noted that PKR president Anwar Ibrahim was supposed to take over as prime minister after the then incumbent Dr Mahathir Mohamad had served two years in office.

However, Bersatu’s Muhyiddin Yassin, Hamzah Zainudin, and Azmin Ali worked to undermine and ultimately thwarted that transition plan.

“So, on what moral basis are Muhyiddin, Azmin, and Hamzah demanding Prime Minister Ismail Sabri to fulfil his promise, whereas the Bersatu trio had violated their promise to Anwar, Harapan parties, and the people who desire change and reforms and have supported Harapan in the 14th general election?

“This is comeuppance for those who break promises,” he said in a statement today.

Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim

Perikatan Nasional and its component party Bersatu have voiced their dissatisfaction towards Ismail Sabri on several occasions for supposedly failing to fulfil certain terms of an agreement.

It is understood that Bersatu had been promised the deputy prime minister post.

A source told Malaysiakini that Bersatu is nominating Azmin for the post, but Ismail Sabri finds the nomination difficult to accept.

On Friday, it was reported that PN is considering whether to withdraw support for Ismail Sabri’s premiership over the matter.

In response, Ismail Sabri said the government is prepared to call an election if any party withdraws support for him.

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin

Hassan said Ismail Sabri’s riposte had put Bersatu in a bind since triggering a snap election would adversely impact the party.

“Firstly, the people will be angry. Second, Bersatu will be seen as going against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decree to maintain political stability. This would incur the palace’s wrath.

“Third, if the 15th general election is held now, then Umno led by the ‘Court Cluster’s’ Zahid Hamidi and ‘Bossku’ Najib Razak that Bersatu opposes will benefit.

“Bersatu led by the trio Muhyiddin, Azmin, and Hamzah should reflect on themselves and Bersatu’s lot,” he said.

The “Court Cluster” refers to a group of Umno leaders facing various corruption, money laundering, and abuse of power charges in court following BN’s fall from power in 2018. - Mkini