JOHOR BARU – A DAP lawmaker has denounced attempts by Perikatan Nasional (PN) to cause the fall of the federal unity government, saying that they are motivated by jealousy and ill feelings following the strong cooperation and working relationship between Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN).
Jelutong MP RSN Rayer claimed that the strong negative sentiments PN leaders have expressed against the unity government after the last general election show that they totally disregard the harmony of the people and the development of the nation.
In contrast, he said, elected representatives from both PH and BN remain strong and will abide by the king’s call to set aside all differences and work together for the nation.
“Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had rejected calls to set up a unity government, while Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang wants to see the fall of the government.”
Muhyiddin is chairman of PN and president of component Bersatu, while Hadi is president of PAS.
“They are both stubborn and do not want to see PH and BN work well together,” Rayer alleged.
“They do not want to stop seeking ways to topple the government,” he said after accompanying the PH candidate for the Pulai parliamentary seat, Suhaizan Kaiat, to meet the Indian community in Tampoi recently.
Rayer said that he had personally accepted the working relationship between PH and BN as it has been proven to be successful and also in line with what the king wants.
“Yes, we used to oppose Umno in the past, but now we are friends and will work together for the people,” he added.
Muhyiddin had in fact characterised the pledge to support Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to head the unity government as unconstitutional and invalid as early as December last year, the month after the general election and the formation of the government.
However, Anwar won a motion of confidence in the Dewan Rakyat through a voice vote on December 19.
This came after the coalitions of PH, BN, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, and Warisan signed an agreement in Putrajaya on December 16 to seal their cooperation in the unity government.
Other objectives contained in the agreement include upholding the supremacy and rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and public institutions, and the effectiveness and professionalism of the security forces.
The agreement also spelt out the need to strengthen the principle of separation of powers between the executive, legislative and judicial branches so that the federal government has strong checks and balances to prevent centralisation of power and abuse.
Following the conclusion of the six-state elections on August 12, Muhyiddin had characterised the results as a referendum showing that the majority had rejected the unity government.
He said PN had captured 60% or 146 seats, mostly Malay-majority constituencies, out of the 245 seats up for grabs in the state polls. Notably, PN successfully retained control of Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu, he added.
Hadi has also in the past 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. – The Vibes, September 1, 2023
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