[UPDATED] Opposition has right to overthrow govt: Hadi

KUALA LUMPUR – PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang has defended the opposition’s democratic right to overthrow the government, claiming that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decree for a unity government is no stumbling block for such attempts. 

When pressed by reporters at the Parliament building today on whether Perikatan Nasional (PN) is formulating strategies for a coup d’état, Hadi asserted that such a move is “normal” among opposition blocs in democratic nations. 

“We (PN) are trying (to overthrow the government) not just through general elections, but also through Parliament. 

“We have a right towards such plans. No one can stop us from planning (a coup),” he said. 

Commenting on claims that a coup will be contradicting the king’s proposal for a unity government, Hadi said that the Agong’s decree is not a “final say” in preventing democratic changes in the country. 

“Our constitutional monarchs are still bound by the federal constitution, which upholds democracy,” he said.

In defending his statement predicting the collapse of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s administration, the Marang MP explained that it is “not impossible” for the government to fall as there are “signs of dissatisfaction” among the various compositions of the unity government.

He added that certain Bersatu leaders who had expressed their resignation in remaining in the opposition bloc can “change their stand” due to the “dynamic” nature of politics. 

Last week, Hadi told the lower house that the opposition should not be blamed if the government collapses again in similar fashion to the disintegration of the Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad-led Pakatan Harapan (PH) government in 2020. 

Instead, Hadi said that such an event would be due to the government’s own flaws and weaknesses. 

Earlier today, Umno veteran Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad claimed that PAS has begun moves to topple the unity government and replace it with an administration it backs. 

Yesterday, The Vibes reported that the Islamic State has set up a chapter in Malaysia supporting a local political party.

The Nordic Counter-Terrorism Network’s Cyber Counter-Terrorism Division revealed the existence of the Al Malaka Media Centre, whose agenda among others is to topple Anwar’s unity government. – The Vibes, March 6, 2023