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KUALA LUMPUR – As many as 29 Barisan Nasional (BN) parliamentarians are said to back rival Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister – except BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
An Umno insider told Getaran that the 29 MPs had signed statutory declarations (SDs) supporting Muhyiddin, which will be submitted to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong by the 2pm deadline.
The source added that the SDs were signed yesterday, led by BN’s Sembrong MP Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
“The 29 MPs do not agree with Zahid’s call to work with Pakatan Harapan (PH) to form a coalition government.
“Zahid’s recent actions are construed as extreme as it goes against Umno’s position of ‘No Anwar, No DAP’ where the Umno president is secretly trying to work with PH.”
Zahid’s “reminder” issued to BN MPs is also seen as irresponsible, and how it would damage the coalition, which comprises Umno, MCA and MIC, among others. MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon, in a statement, had urged Zahid to step down.
“The most disappointing is the threats of sacking against his MPs, for not adhering to the promises signed when they were picked as electoral candidates.
“His (Zahid’s) statement is embarrassing and Umno’s top leaders should push for his resignation. Otherwise, Umno will not evolve nor undergo the much hoped for ‘reformasi’.”
Amid the calls for Zahid to resign following BN’s shock defeat, he reminded the MPs yesterday of the “Aku Janji” document that they had signed to give him the authority to decide who BN will work with to form a new government.
“In this regard, any MPs who defy the party’s order will result in them losing their party membership, and subsequently their parliamentary seat. This is in line with Parliament’s anti-party hopping law, as enshrined under Article 49A of the federal constitution.”
The under-fire Umno leader also refuted claims by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg’s announcement that the new government will be formed by working with PN, BN and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
The race to Putrajaya remains open as no coalition or party won 112 seats, which is the simple majority in the Dewan Rakyat.
After the tallying of votes over the weekend, PH with its partners have won 82 seats, followed by PN’s 73, BN (30), GPS (22), GRS (6), Warisan (3), Parti Bangsa Malaysia (1), Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (1) and two independents.
Meanwhile, the election of the Padang Serai seat will be held on December 7 following the sudden death of PH’s candidate and incumbent M. Karupaiya on November 16, three days before polling day. – The Vibes, November 21, 2022