KUALA LUMPUR – Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said it is unfair for the four Melaka reps – who withdrew support for Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali – to be likened to the politicians involved in the Sheraton Move.
The Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman and PKR president said this is because former Melaka chief minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron (Sg Udang assemblyman), Datuk Noor Effandi Ahmad (Telok Mas), Datuk Nor Azman Hassan (Pantai Kundor), and Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Pengkalan Batu) want to return the people’s mandate to PH.
Anwar said this is also why PH is still deciding on whether they will be fielded to contest under its banner in the upcoming state election on November 20.
“I don’t really agree with people who lump them as being in the same group of those in the Sheraton Move – for example, those who (have) betrayed the people’s trust,” Anwar said.
“They want to return the mandate to PH, so that is a consideration although I understand (the sentiments against the four) and follow the controversial and heated comments (on social media),” Anwar – who is also Port Dickson MP – said after handing out food baskets in conjunction with the Deepavali festive season at the Kg India community hall in Bukit Pelandok, Chua, here this morning.
The Sheraton Move saw Gombak MP Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali leading several other MPs to quit PKR and lend their support to Bersatu, following Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s resignation as prime minister (PM) in February last year.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong subsequently appointed Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as the new PM, paving the way for Bersatu to form a new coalition named Perikatan Nasional to rule Malaysia.
Last week, the PH presidential council said it will not be fielding Norhizam in the upcoming polls, after taking into account the views of all who were adamant on this matter.
“It should be emphasised that the people’s interests are more important than those of individuals,” it said in a statement.
However, Anwar today said the decision on the other three assemblymen had yet to be made.
He also explained that he was not the one who sparked the collapse of the state government.
“It is not me, the Melaka PH leadership had held talks with them, and they (the four reps) decided to support PH and return the mandate that was snatched beforehand.
“So now, we have a problem in simply rejecting them (as candidates), as hoped by some quarters on social media.”
The Election Commission has set November 20 as polling day for the Melaka polls, and November 8 for nomination.
Melaka Governor Tun Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam dissolved the state assembly on October 4 after the four assemblymen withdrew their support for Umno’s Sulaiman.
Anwar said the four reps earlier predicted that they would have been sacked from their party in making the move against the then chief minister.
“So, we are forced to hold talks with the Melaka PH leadership and the (federal) PH leadership to take into account these issues to come up with a (final) decision (on their fielding).”
Anwar maintained that the seat allocations among PH parties have been finalised, as announced previously. Eight seats for DAP, nine seats for Amanah, and 11 seats for PKR.
Meanwhile on Budget 2022, he said: “It’s a good budget, especially in terms of allocations for the needy.
“However, if we do not study these (off-budget expenses), they will continue to drag on. I will comment on that tomorrow (Monday) before noon.” – The Vibes, October 31, 2021
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