PUTRAJAYA – Maszlee Malik’s purported move to sign a statutory declaration (SD) in support of opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s ambition to become prime minister is nothing short of disrespectful, said Pejuang.
Deputy president Datuk Marzuki Yahya said if this proves true, the Simpang Renggam MP’s decision does not reflect the party’s “wait and see” stand.
When Pejuang took its position based on chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s directive, “we assumed that Anwar did not have a strong number. That was why we made that stand”, Marzuki told The Vibes in an interview at his office here.
He said the party’s stance is also based on Anwar’s statement that his list of MPs does not include lawmakers from Pejuang, Warisan and Parti Sarawak Bersatu.
News portal Malaysia Now on Saturday named Maszlee as the lone “individual” MP who signed an SD in support of Anwar’s plan to oust Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Anwar, who is PKR president, last Tuesday said he submitted documents to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to prove that he had a “strong, formidable and convincing” majority of more than 120 lawmakers.
Pressed further on the veracity of the report on the former education minister, Marzuki said he is “not sure whether Maszlee has personally stated his support” for Anwar.
“But for me, we have to respect the party’s decision to work as a team, in any decision we make.
“As far as I’m concerned, if he has indeed signed the SD, that is his personal decision, and that is a disrespect to the decision we made as a party.”
However, he said Pejuang adopted its “wait and see” posture before its pro tem committee decided to nominate Dr Mahathir as prime minister.
The Vibes has reached out to Maszlee for comment. – The Vibes, October 20, 2020
