A Bersatu leader has accused Perikatan Nasional of betraying the rights of Malay-Muslims after several of its lawmakers refused to take part in parliamentary debates on the royal commission of inquiry’s report regarding Tabung Haji.
In a statement issued using the PN letterhead today, Bersatu supreme council member Dr Afif Bahardin praised the party’s MPs for remaining in the Dewan Rakyat when a group of PAS and Wawasan Negara parliamentarians staged a walkout.
“Bersatu chose to defend the trust of Malay-Muslims. Those who chose to walk out (of the Dewan) need to answer to the ummah why they left while the ummah’s trust was being defended.
“Malay-Muslim politics must move forward - not merely with slogans and sentiments, but with integrity, courage, and accountability,” said Afif, who is also the Selangor PN secretary.
PN chairperson Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar recently confirmed that Bersatu remains part of the coalition, following earlier claims by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang that the Muhyiddin Yassin-led party is no longer part of the coalition.
‘PN ministers in charge when RCI formed’
In his statement titled “Bersatu defends Malay-Muslim rights, PN betrays Malay-Muslim rights in Tabung Haji RCI issue”, Afif also trained his guns on opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin, who leads Wawasan, as well as chief whip and PN secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan.
“Hamzah was in the cabinet when the decision to set up this RCI was made, while Takiyuddin was the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of legal affairs and Parliament at the time.
“If they previously agreed that an RCI was necessary to seek the truth, why leave the Dewan today when the findings of the investigation are to be debated?” the Taman Medan assemblyperson pressed.
Earlier today, Takiyuddin informed Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul that the opposition will boycott today’s debate after the latter denied their appeal to postpone the special sitting.
Postponing today’s agenda, PN argued, would allow Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is on medical leave, to table the report.
However, Bersatu’s Putrajaya MP Radzi Jidin affirmed that all Bersatu MPs will remain in the lower house to participate in the briefing.
Addressing a press conference after the walkout, Hamzah said the government should not waste time on a special sitting to discuss the RCI report on Tabung Haji if the process only amounts to a ministerial briefing with no decision or vote.
Johari had confirmed on Aug 3 that Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Zulkifli Hasan will present the findings of the report, with the special sitting called under Standing Order 14(1)(i) on ministerial statements.
‘Immature politics’
Following the walkout, a total of 37 MPs are expected to debate the report before a wrapping-up session by Zulkifli.
In his debate, Bersatu’s Padang Serai MP, Azman Nasrudin, briefly said any “boycott” of today’s sitting by other lawmakers is “unreasonable”, regardless of the reasons cited.
Expressing similar sentiments, Amanah vice-president Mahfuz Omar labelled the actions by PAS and Wawasan MPs as a demonstration of “immature politics” that fails to reflect any seriousness to defend Tabung Haji depositors’ interests.
“If they truly want to defend depositors, sit down, listen, and debate. If they disagree, argue sanely. If there are facts to be challenged, produce proof.
“Leaving the Dewan while explanations are being given is not the act of a fighter for truth - people who truly want answers do not leave the Dewan while explanations and answers are being given,” Mahfuz said in a statement today.
Reiterating that Anwar was absent from the Dewan today due to medical issues, the former lawmaker suggested that the opposition MPs undergo “mental political treatment” as they appear to be “afraid of facts”.
“Depositors do not need heroes who are skilled at leaving the Dewan - they need elected representatives willing to sit, listen, ask questions, and defend their trust with facts.
“Identity politics is afraid of questions, (but) integrity politics is brave enough to sit and listen to answers and give views as well as suggestions,” he added. - Mkini
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