KUALA LUMPUR – Yet another Umno MP has distanced himself from a list of names, purportedly of Barisan Nasional (BN) lawmakers supporting the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.
Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim joined his party colleague Tan Sri Noh Omar in debunking suggestions that they are with party vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in backing the ruling administration.
In an online press conference, Azeez, who is Baling MP, said he took note of the various negative allegations on social media claiming he has betrayed the party, maintaining this is not the case.
“As a party member who contested under the Umno and BN banner, I will never do that. I would like to explain that the signature on the viral document is merely for his attendance to the meeting.
“There were no other letters that we were asked to sign.”
Azeez’s statement comes just moments after Noh issued a similar denial of his alleged support for Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, reiterating his backing for the Umno Supreme Council’s decision to withdraw support for the prime minister and the government.
In a press conference earlier today, Ismail Sabri, who is deputy prime minister as well as the government’s chief whip, had said 31 BN MPs are in agreement to allow PN to continue until a confidence motion is tabled in Parliament next month.
The Bera MP also produced a list of names with signatures supposedly of those in support of the Muhyiddin-led administration, including Noh and Azeez.
Azeez clarified that his attendance at today’s meeting chaired by Ismail Sabri was only to listen to what the nation’s No. 2 had to say.
“I hope Baling constituents will not get confused by the allegations made by certain irresponsible parties trying to incite the current issue, in relation to my presence during the meeting with Ismail Sabri.
“As an Umno and Supreme Council member who is loyal to the party’s decisions, whatever is decided by the party is en bloc. We will abide by it whatever the decision.
“As such, I hope all Umno members and leaders can close ranks and focus on assisting the rakyat,” said Azeez.
His declaration piles further pressure on Muhyiddin, who has now supposedly lost the majority support of the Dewan Rakyat after Umno, via an announcement by its president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Tuesday, that the party has officially withdrawn support for the prime minister and PN. – The Vibes, August 6, 2021
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