PN actively persuading Umno MPs – Johor Umno
JOHOR BAHRU - Johor Umno reveals that Perikatan Nasional (PN) is now actively persuading the party's Members of Parliament (MPs) to support them.
Johor Umno secretary Datuk Abdul Halim Suleiman said the persuasion and negotiations that some leaders tried to hold, however, were rejected by Umno MPs.
He said that Umno MPs had more dignity and credibility when they refused to negotiate for PN's desire to establish a government in Putrajaya, especially after the victory in Kemaman by-election.
"There are indeed efforts being and have been made by some PN leaders to negotiate with a few Umno MPs to be with them.
"But everything was rejected outright because Umno MPs have more dignity and credibility," he said in a statement on Tuesday.
Halim claimed that PN was now more anxious because there would be more MPs who would shift their support to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Madani Government.
"For me, the decision by five PN MPs to support the Prime Minister is a big-hearted act. They are willing to put aside their egos, party differences and ideologies to ensure that allocations for Parliament and the people who vote for them are guaranteed.
"Therefore, when Barisan Nasional (BN) lost in the Kemaman by-election, I was relieved because PN only won one seat but lost the support of five other seats. So, their move to Putrajaya is just like Mat Jenin's wishful thinking," he said.
On Saturday, Sinar Harian reported that the speculation that more than 10 members of Parliament from the government bloc would switch their support to PN to form a new government was stronger and more realistic than speculation that additional PN MPs would defect from the opposition bloc.
Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) Supreme Leadership Council member Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof said that the speculation was not just empty talk after he was informed that there was an internal discussion among the highest leadership regarding the matter.
Recently, Bukit Gantang MP Syed Abu Hussin became the fifth PN representative from Bersatu to express support for the Prime Minister's leadership after Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar) and Datuk Dr Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan).
