Not wrong for govt MPs to retract support for Anwar, says Sanusi

 

Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor said the government should not be upset if Perikatan Nasional managed to get 10 backbenchers to back the opposition.

PETALING JAYA: Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor says there is nothing wrong with the opposition taking advantage of a loophole in the anti-hopping law to get government MPs to back Perikatan Nasional (PN).

Sanusi said this was because the earlier decision of five PN MPs to back Anwar Ibrahim’s administration while remaining in Bersatu was considered “constitutional” by unity government supporters.

“If they can lure five MPs, why should they get upset if we take 10 (MPs)?

“If it is okay for opposition MPs to back the government, it should be okay for government MPs to retract their support for him,” he said, referring to the prime minister.

Sanusi said this at a press conference after chairing the state executive council meeting at Wisma Darul Aman.

He also claimed that opposition MPs backing the government and vice-versa was “normal in a democracy” and was allowed under the constitution.

Sanusi’s remarks were a response to speculation over what has come to be known as the “Dubai Move”. It is alleged that discussions took place between opposition leaders and certain government representatives during their recent visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The meeting was allegedly aimed at dividing tasks among “agents” to identify MPs who could switch support to the opposition to form a new government.

The move was played down by Anwar while deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he was aware of the plot even before the people involved landed in the UAE.

Last year, five Bersatu MPs pledged their support for Anwar’s administration, saying they were doing so for the sake of their constituents and to ensure continued development for their constituencies.

The five are Bukit Gantang MP Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal, Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar) and Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan).

Sanusi went on to say that he does not believe the unity government will last for five years and that he expects a new government to be formed this year.

He further claimed that this was supported by the general public.

The people, he said, were seeing a repeat of Pakatan Harapan’s performance when it came to power in 2018, citing the alleged interference in Islamic affairs.

“It’s even worse than the 22-months,” he said, referring to the period PH governed the nation.

“Hence, if there is a change in the government, the people will applaud it.” - FMT