KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s Bersatu was the staunchest supporter of emergency rule at Friday’s special cabinet meeting, people familiar with the matter told The Vibes.
Sources said the party vetoed cabinet partner Umno to push for emergency powers, which the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Conference of Rulers are expected to deliberate on later today.
Umno has nine members in the cabinet, while Bersatu has 11. Finance Minister and Senator Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, despite not being a member of any political outfit, is a Muhyiddin ally.
Umno’s aversion to emergency rule is “because it would work against the party”, said a source.
“Some are also disgruntled with Muhyiddin. But because they are outnumbered, they got vetoed on implementing emergency rule.”
Bersatu and Umno are the keystones of Perikatan Nasional and Barisan Nasional, respectively.
It is not known whether other cabinet members from both pacts voted for or against the implementation of such draconian measures, as the country wrestles with a recession and the coronavirus pandemic.
But, Umno’s top brass has been left “confused” and “flummoxed” by Muhyiddin’s desire to opt for emergency rule, said an insider.
“This is primarily due to the fact that only one Umno minister will be part of the so-called emergency cabinet – Ismail Sabri.”
This, in turn, “will naturally dilute Umno’s say in key decisions, as Bersatu, represented by the likes of Azmin and Hamzah, will naturally be the dominant party in the emergency cabinet”, added the source, referring to Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali and Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.
Umno warlords also believe that Muhyiddin is planning to use emergency powers “to delay elections and cling on to power for as long as possible”, said the insiders.
Friday’s headlines on Muhyiddin mooting emergency rule took the country by storm, with the prime minister taking flak from activists and politicians, including those from Umno, such as party No. 2 Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who urged the government to “react reasonably”.
Malaysians were even galvanised into launching an online petition, calling on the Malay rulers not to declare an emergency.
It is believed that Muhyiddin, who has a razor-thin majority in the Dewan Rakyat, is pushing for harsh measures as a means to stave off a budget bill defeat, which would automatically translate to a vote of no confidence and the collapse of his government. – The Vibes, October 25, 2020
