‘Circumstantial evidence’ of new gov’t plot, says PKR sec-gen

PKR insists that it has sufficient evidence to believe in the existence of a plot to reconfigure the Pakatan Harapan government.

This is despite a denial by Umno’s Sembrong MP Hishammuddin Hussein that he is behind a covert move to form a new administration sans DAP and Amanah.

Speaking to the media today, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution said the party had “circumstantial evidence” of attempts to hijack the ruling coalition and thus had sought to warn the public about it.

“There is circumstantial evidence. There is no need for evidence that is (direct) because is there such evidence in politics?

“There is enough circumstantial evidence for us to get our central leadership council (MPP) to take a stance that the people should know about this attempt to hijack the reform agenda [...] and the rakyat’s decision in the previous general election,” the domestic trade and cooperatives minister said when asked after officiating the "InvestSmart Fest" in Kuala Lumpur.

Late last night, PKR’s MPP had issued a statement urging the public to beware of those who were making backroom deals for personal political gain.

It did not name any individuals or parties except to note that PKR was on guard against elements from the “old regime”, vowing the combat such elements.

Today, Saifuddin said that those behind the move possibly wanted to salvage themselves from prosecution.

“This initiative wants to bring back politik usang (old politics) as opposed to the brand of inclusive politics which Pakatan Harapan practices.

“[...] we want to remind the rakyat that those who are pushing this move are those who want to save themselves from actions from the authorities,” he said.

The MPP warning came after a shock allegation by Harapan's leadership council that Hishamuddin had been covertly engineering a scheme to form a new government and demanded that he stop.

Since then, sources from both sides of the political divide have told Malaysiakini that PKR deputy president and Economics Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali; Entrepreneurship Development minister Mohd Redzuan Yusof and Larut MP Hamzah Zainuddin are also allegedly involved.

Redzuan and Hamzah are from Bersatu.

PKR soon in all 222 Parliament seats

Saifuddin added that PKR will soon have a presence in all 222 Parliament seats, an apparent first for a Malaysian political party.

“We are now registered in 221 parliament seats [...] but we will register our latest branch in Tanjong Manis (in Sarawak) on Nov 3.

“[...] there is not a single party which is in all parliamentary seats (until now),” he said.

Last night’s meeting also saw the MPP approve some 11,000 new membership applications which Saifuddin said were made just this week.

Asked if the applications had included one from Bukit Gantang MP Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz, he appeared to dismiss the question and said announcements would be made in due time.

Last night, Perak PKR had initially announced the independent lawmaker’s entry into the party but the latter denied making an application.

Organised by the Securities Commission, the InvestSmart Fest will showcase more than 50 capital market products and services from today to Oct 21. - Mkini