KUALA LUMPUR – Bersatu is only intact because of the anti-hopping law, Umno Supreme Council Member Datuk Puad Zarkashi has told the Perikatan Nasional (PN) component party.
Addressing remarks by Bersatu information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan, Puad said the former was wrong in saying that PN was a “principled” party.
“The anti-party hopping law saved PN. Without the law, many PN MPs will be jumping parties.
“Not to mention the fact that many PN MPs are also formerly party hoppers. PN should thank Barisan Nasional (BN). The anti-hopping law was passed and enacted under a BN prime minister,” Puad said in a Facebook post.
In July, the anti-hopping law was passed by more than a two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat and was gazetted and enforced on federal lawmakers prior to the 15th general election on November 19.
Wan Saiful, in an interview with Astro Awani last night, had talked about voters feeling deceived by PH and BN which went into the election as rivals, but are now forming a new government together.
In a Facebook post today that linked to a clip of his interview, he said “the whole country” had been deceived by PH and BN whom he said were “willing to sell their dignity for positions and wealth”, whereas PN was a principled party.
Wan Saiful also told Astro Awani that he “pitied” Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, whom he said had to now deal with people from BN who have “had a record of bringing down the prime minister”.
This was in reference to the BN lawmakers led by coalition chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi pulling their support from Bersatu president and PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin when he was prime minister, forcing him to step down.
“Now these people are in the government, and Anwar has to depend on them. I worry that this government will continue to be unstable,” Wan Saiful said.
However, Puad via Facebook said that BN had joined the PH government “based on trust”.
“Whereas, Muhyiddin, in inviting BN to support his government, had vindictive motives. He wants to kill off Umno,” said Puad.
“This is why Muhyiddin could only be PM for 17 months,” the Umno man added.
Following the 15th general election, which resulted in a hung Parliament, Muhyiddin claimed he had the support of 115 MPs, including BN’s MPs – enough to form a new government.
After an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, however, Muhyiddin rejected the king’s proposal to form a unity government with PH. Following this, BN, after meetings involving its top leadership, decided to join Anwar’s government.
Anwar was named as the country’s 10th prime minister, while Muhyiddin has since stated that PN will remain in the opposition. – The Vibes, December 1, 2022
