PETALING JAYA: The group of five former Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) MPs led by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pic) has declared it would remain as an independent bloc ahead of the Parliament meeting next week.
According to a joint statement, they said they decided to remain as independents as they are sticking with its earlier decision to support Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal as premier, not Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
It said this was because nominating Shafie as a candidate for premier is a positive step in improving relations between Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysian states.
“For us, nominating Shafie as prime minister is a positive step that needs to be taken.
“Not only do we believe he has the ability to garner majority support, but it is also a step forward to improve relations between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak.
“We also decided to remain with Warisan (Parti Warisan Sabah) as an independent bloc inside and outside of Parliament, ” said the joint statement on Friday (July 10).
The joint statement was signed by Dr Mahathir, his son Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, Simpang Renggam MP Dr Maszlee Malik, Kubang Pasu MP Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah, and Sri Gading MP Datuk Dr Shahruddin Md Salleh.
“We are not joining any coalitions.
“We are against any efforts to replace the Speaker and we will go ahead with the no confidence motion against Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who formed a government that wasn’t chosen by the people.
“We still prioritise our initial struggles which is rejecting the return of a kleptocratic government, ” said Dr Mahathir who is Langkawi MP.
Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir, who was former Bersatu chairman, said that Shafie’s candidacy was decided following several meetings between the six MPs.
“Although the Pakatan Harapan presidential council has named Anwar as the prime minister candidate, it doesn’t involve me and my friends from Bersatu, as well as Warisan.
“We are still holding on to the suggestion made following a meeting between me and leaders from Warisan, Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) and DAP on June 25.”
During that meeting on June 25, Dr Mahathir said Amanah and DAP had proposed Shafie’s name as prime minister candidate, with Anwar and Mukhriz serving as his deputy.
Dr Mahathir said the former Bersatu MPs agreed to that proposal because they claimed it was a solution to the impasse over Pakatan’s choice for prime minister.
“The June 25 meeting had asked me to make an announcement regarding Shafie’s candidacy and I did it on June 27.
“After the announcement was made, DAP and Amanah did not hold on to the decision to nominate Shafie during a July 6 Pakatan presidential council meeting.
"Instead, Anwar was named as prime minister candidate, ” said Dr Mahathir.
On July 6, the Pakatan presidential council said it decided to commit to its earlier decision to nominate Anwar as the coalition’s candidate for premier.
On Thursday (July 9), Shafie said he believes he could solve the impasse over Pakatan’s choice for prime minister.
He also indicated that there will be further discussions in Kuala Lumpur when Parliament reconvenes next Monday (July 13).
Questions are being raised as to whether Dr Mahathir could mount a successful no-confidence motion against Muhyiddin’s leadership, given that his bloc only has six MPs and nine MPs from Warisan. - Star
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