KUALA LUMPUR – A total of 31 Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs are in agreement to allow the current government to continue until a confidence motion is tabled in the Dewan Rakyat next month, said Deputy Prime Minister and Bera MP Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He said this at a gathering of BN lawmakers in Menara DBKL here today for a press conference amid the current political crisis.
He added that the support is expressed by 21 MPs present at the press conference and 10 others who are not in attendance.
“Any statutory declarations or moves to bring down the government goes against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decree.”
The nation’s No. 2 said it would be utterly irresponsible for lawmakers, especially ministers and deputy ministers, to abandon ship and leave the country rudderless in the midst of a triple health, economic and political crises.
He added that any statutory declarations (SD) or letters of support for any move to oust the current administration can be considered moot, seeing that Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has already granted his assent for the vote of confidence against Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin next month.
“So, the issue that MPs are committing derhaka (treason) is moot. Maybe the ones committing derhaka are the ones who are against the Agong’s decree to carry out this matter in Parliament this September. The Agong is not even receiving any more SDs or letters of support.
“And, our focus is to continue helping the government resolve the current issues – the Covid-19 pandemic and the rakyat’s suffering caused by the pandemic.
“As responsible MPs, especially ministers who have been tasked to resolve the Covid-19 pandemic (and) resolve the rakyat’s problems, it would be highly irresponsible to the rakyat if we leave this government in haste, as instructed by our party,” said Ismail Sabri.
However, he said he and the Umno MPs with him are still loyal to the party but will discuss among themselves about how to address the letter recently issued by secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.
Ismail Sabri also said he has not received or is not aware of any disciplinary action to be taken against him as stated by Umno president and BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in a report by The Vibes.
At the same time, the Umno vice-president told Zahid that he should have a one-on-one meeting with all of his party and BN MPs to explain to them why he called for the party leaders to pull out of the PN administration.
Meanwhile, MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong and MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan also declared their support for the PN regime until the next election.
“MCA’s political bureau has made a decision based on the BN resolution approved last year to be part of the PN administration until the next general election.
“So, until that decision has been changed, we feel called to remain with our BN colleagues to focus on the rakyat, Covid-19 problems and, finally, allow the rakyat to decide in the next general election,” said Wee.
Saravanan said leaving the current administration will lead to more questions asked instead of solving problems.
“Everyone feels ‘blur’ right now. As an individual, I can leave but then, what will I answer to my MIC members? If BN leaves PN, we will have only 41 seats. Umno said no PKR, no DAP, no Bersatu… where will that leave us? No one can form a government,” said the human resource minister.
The MPs backing the current administration are:
- Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (Bera)
- Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid (Padang Terap)
- Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (Arau)
- Datuk Hasan Arifin (Rompin)
- Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim (Baling)
- Tan Sri Annuar Musa (Ketereh)
- Datuk Seri Halimah Sadique (Kota Tinggi)
- Datuk Seri Ismail Said (Kuala Krau)
- Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad (Lipis)
- Datuk Seri Ismail Abd Muttalib (Maran)
- Mohd Shahar Abdullah (Paya Besar)
- Datuk Mastura Yazid (Kuala Kangsar)
- Datuk Seri Ahmad Hamzah (Jasin)
- Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz (Padang Rengas)
- Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias (Jelebu)
- Datuk Seri Salim Sharif (Jempol)
- Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong (Ayer Hitam)
- Datuk Seri M. Saravanan (Tapah)
- Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh (Besut)
- Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (Pasir Salak)
- Khairy Jamaluddin (Rembau)
- Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican (Kepala Batas)
- Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba (Tenggara)
- Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (Sembrong)
- Datuk Mohamad Alamin (Kimanis)
- Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin (Padang Besar)
- Datuk Mohd Nizar Zakaria (Parit)
- Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (Putrajaya)
- Tan Sri Noh Omar (Tg Karang)
- Datuk Seri Wee Jeck Seng (Tg Piai)
- Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup (Pensiangan). – The Vibes, August 6, 2021
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