In a mind boggling development in the country, a prominent opposition MP had recently declined a “proposal” by a MP from the ruling coalition to move a motion of no confidence against the prime minister in the next parliament sitting!
Shockingly, he then went on to claim that apparently fearing repercussions, it was the dissatisfied MPs from the government bloc who were actually trying to “piggyback” the opposition in trying to oust their own boss, the prime minister.
According to a recent FMT report, the opposition MP from Bersatu, Wan Saiful Wan Jan, had said the proposal by Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim was actually reflective of the disillusionment among PKR’s lawmakers with Anwar’s leadership; he further claimed this was due to the prime minister’s failure to make good on long-promised reform initiatives, further accusing them of defending a vengeful, incompetent and directionless leader!
The former Bersatu information chief then added that it was not surprising if PKR MPs themselves were inclined to propose a change in leadership, before going on to lambast the government MPs for being responsible for Anwar’s failure to safeguard the welfare of the people and to control the escalating cost of living.
Wan Saiful was responding to the PKR MP’s earlier comment on the so-called “Dubai Move”, where he had challenged Perikatan Nasional to file a no-confidence motion, stating that it must be serious, if it truly wished to test Anwar’s validity as prime minister after accusing him of not possessing a simple majority of 112 seats.
For the record, Wan Saiful, who is no stranger to controversies and who is one of PM Anwar’s fiercest critics was reported to be the first lawmaker to openly oppose the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023 after its tabling last year, adding that he disagreed with the bill’s proposed generational ban on tobacco and vape (GEG).
According to him, the said law was being introduced at a time when the people were not ready for it, when in fact, what they wanted was controls on the price of goods and restraints on the rising cost of living - not controls and curbs on their lifestyles and their freedom of choice!
Then, last November, Wan Saiful was also embroiled in another controversy after he appeared to batu api (instigate) DAP to sue Barisan Nasional for linking the former to communist leader Chin Peng and ex-Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew in the latter's election campaign booklet; this was after a viral video clip uploaded earlier showed PAS MP Siti Mastura telling a political rally in Kemaman, Terengganu of the so called “blood-ties” between several top DAP leaders with Chin Peng and Lee Kuan Yew by quoting the said BN election booklet!
In fact, last July, Wan Saiful was also sharply rebuked and told to “mind his own business” by an enraged DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke after the Bersatu leader had (apparently without any proof) alleged that there were plans to replace Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow with Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim.
Incidentally, in spite of all the finger pointing at the unity government, alleging that they were employing “money politics” to get several opposition MPs to declare their support for Anwar last October, the Bersatu supreme council member himself had recently claimed trial to 18 charges of money laundering amounting to RM5.59 million and was charged under Section 4(1)(b) Anti-Money Laundering Act. (Read here)
According to the charge sheet, amongst others, Wan Saiful, as the director of the WSA Advisory Group Sdn Bhd, was charged with transferring funds worth a total of RM1.66 million, believed to be from illegal proceeds, to several companies and individuals, including to a car dealership to buy a Ford Ranger worth RM78,800.
Furthermore, he was also accused to have utilised money worth RM3.93 million, allegedly obtained through illicit activities, which he had transferred from the consultancy firm's account to his own CIMB and Maybank accounts.
Meanwhile, last Thursday, PM Anwar Ibrahim in echoing his Pasir Gudang MP, Hassan Karim’s call, had challenged the opposition to bring a vote of no confidence in the Dewan Rakyat - if they really wanted to overthrow the government; he added the unity government has provided them an opportunity but they have not taken up the offer.
In fact, according to Anwar, he has been “waiting patiently” for the vote of no confidence for a long time - almost every day - for the past one year! However, nothing seems to be happening, apart from their oft-repeated mantra that they have enough SDs (Statutory Declarations) to pull off another Sheraton stunt!
Main Information Source: FMT and NST
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