KUALA LUMPUR – Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman announced that the party has decided to end its support for the federal unity government and has opted to be a “third force” opposition in Malaysia.
He said the party has made the move as a protest against the ruling to give a discharge not amounting to an acquittal to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi from graft-related charges.
“Muda has decided to become the third force opposition as a sign of protest because the government today dropped 47 cases of corruption,” he said in a posting on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“This is the beginning of normalising corruption. We cannot and will not tolerate this unprincipled move.
“Let me be punished for losing my principles and committing a great sin.
“I will answer all questions in the live session later at 8.30pm. Muda remains principled,” he stressed.
The Muar MP said that a letter has been delivered to the speaker of the Dewan Rakyat informing him of the decision.
The pullout is not expected to be much of a blow to the governenment as the remaining parties have a significant lead in numbers over their next rival Perikatan Nasional in the Dewan Rakyat.
Pakatan Harapan (PH) has 81 seats and Barisan Nasional has 30 in the 222-seat house. Their allies Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) have 23 6 seats respectively.
Other supporting parties are Warisan (3 seats), KDM (2 seats) and PBM (1 seat).
In total, the unity government is propped up by 147 seats at present.
Muda had suffered a devastating defeat in the six-state elections last month when all its 19 candidates lost their deposits. – The Vibes, September 10, 2023