BN will support Anwar in any vote of confidence, says Zahid

 

BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the vote of confidence would put to rest any questions surrounding the validity of Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership.

PETALING JAYA: Barisan Nasional chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says its MPs will support any vote of confidence on Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership in the Dewan Rakyat on Dec 19.

Zahid said with this vote of confidence, questions surrounding the validity of the prime minister’s leadership could be put to rest.

“Although some have said this is a risky move, it is part of the democratic process. BN will give our support in line with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decree,” he said in a Facebook post.

Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah had initially asked Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) to form a unity government after the general election ended in a hung Parliament.

However, PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin turned down this offer because he said PN could not work with PH.

Earlier this week, Anwar, in his first media conference as prime minister, said he would “test” his majority in Parliament through a vote of confidence and that his government would table a revised budget “in another month or so”.

However, DAP’s Ramkarpal Singh, a lawyer, said yesterday that Anwar should forget about having this motion of confidence as it was “no longer needed”.

“It is clear now that he (PH chairman Anwar) enjoys an overwhelming majority, in excess of 140 seats,” he added.

The Bukit Gelugor MP said it would be better for the prime minister to instead focus on the 2023 budget set to be tabled later.

Besides BN, Anwar’s unity government also includes Gabungan Parti Sarawak and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, and has the support of MPs from Warisan, Muda, Parti Bangsa Malaysia as well as independents. - FMT