KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin offer of bipartisanship to opposition MPs in his bid to stay in power may not be carrying the effect he desires.
Opposition MPs have taken to social media to openly reject his offer, claiming further that today’s announcement also goes to show that the Pagoh MP does not have majority support in the Dewan Rakyat.
“I reject your carrot-and-stick approach. Please resign!” Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng tweeted.
I reject your carrot and stick approach. Please resign! @MuhyiddinYassin
— LIM LIP ENG (@limlipeng) August 13, 2021
Meanwhile, Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil took the opportunity to point out that Muhyiddin may have slipped up and indirectly admitted to losing his majority in the Dewan Rakyat.
“Muhyiddin informed he has lost his majority. Thanks for confirming!
“Article 43(4) of the federal constitution is triggered. Other issues were not raised.
“Don’t violate the functions of the commander-in-chief as provided for in the federal constitution. It is derhaka,” Fahmi tweeted.
TS Mahiaddin telah umum beliau hilang majoriti. Terima kasih sahkan!
— Fahmi Fadzil ??? (@fahmi_fadzil) August 13, 2021
Perkara 43(4) Perlembagaan Persekutuan is triggered. Isu lain tidak timbul.
Dan jangan belakangi fungsi & kuasa Ketua Utama Negara spt terkandung dlm 43(2)(a) Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Itu derhaka namanya. https://t.co/qVljPt3Xnu
Meanwhile, Subang MP Wong Chen stated that Pakatan Harapan (PH) will “reply” to the offer made by Muhyiddin, and would not comment until the coalition issues a statement.
However, Wong indirectly questioned the prime minister’s sanity.
“But I am extremely curious as to what delusional reality he inhabits.
“When you have no majority, you have no choice but to resign. When you don’t have a majority, you have no basis whatsoever to offer or propose anything,” Wong tweeted.
Opposition leaders will be meeting soon. A reply to the "offer" made by the prime minister will be made.
— Wong Chen (@WongChenPKR) August 13, 2021
I will not be commenting on this matter until PH issues a statement. (1/n)
However, Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming seemed to display a different tone from his PH colleagues.
“PM @MuhyiddinYassin has proposed a way forward with a number of institutional reforms that could leave a lasting impact on Malaysian politics if passed.
“I think that all political parties should sit down to discuss if these terms are acceptable or not, no?” Ong tweeted.
PM @MuhyiddinYassin has proposed a way fwd with a number of institutional reforms that could leave a lasting impact on Msian politics if passed. I think that all political parties should sit down to discuss if these terms are acceptable or not, no?
— Ong Kian Ming ?? (@imokman) August 13, 2021
From the Pejuang side, Jerlun MP Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir likened Muhyiddin’s announcement to bribing the nation.
“Did Mahiaddin just gaslight us just now? Did I hear him offer us a bribe to support him & his minority government?
“Did he offer to stay on as PM and remain incumbent PM when GE15 happens in July’22? Are we stupid or what?
He also questioned the Pagoh MP’s understanding of the constitution, querying where in the nation’s most supreme law provides that a prime minister with no majority can’t resign until another parliamentarian has garnered majority support.
“Where in the #federalconstitution does it say that a PM who has lost majority cannot resign until another MP with majority is identified?
“43(4) states a PM who ceases to have the confidence of majority of MPs shall tender the resignation of the cabinet,” Mukkhriz tweeted.
Did mahiaddin just gaslight us just now? Did I hear him offer us a bribe to support him & his minority Govt? Did he offer to stay on as PM and will remain incumbent PM when GE15 happens in July’22? Are we stupid or what?
— Mukhriz Mahathir (@MukhrizMahathir) August 13, 2021
Similarly, yet-to-be-registered Muda took a similar stance, rejecting Muhyiddin’s offer.
The party’s only parliamentarian, Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, slammed Muhyiddin for his hypocrisy.
“Only when losing power do you remember to give annual allocations to opposition MPs.
“Nearly two years later, the opposition has yet to receive equal allocations from the Perikatan Nasional government,” Syed Saddiq said.
With regard to Muhyiddin’s offer of enacting an anti-party-hopping law, Syed Saddiq found the offer peculiar, given the Pagoh MP’s government consists of those who switched political allegiances.
“The PN government is made by party hoppers, and suddenly they want to enact a law against it.
Syed Saddiq then went on to question why Muhyiddin, who delayed Undi18, suddenly announced that voting rights for those aged 18 and above can be implemented immediately.
If PN is genuinely seeking bipartisan support, Syed Saddiq further asked why his party was prevented from being registered.
“PN wants to reform Parliament, but have we forgotten that he sent the Federal Reserve Unit to block opposition members from entering the Dewan Rakyat?” Syed Saddiq posted on Facebook. – The Vibes, August 13, 2021
