Support from six Opposition MPs for PM an effort to ensure political stability

KUALA LUMPUR - The decision by six Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Opposition to pledge their support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim can be described as an effort by the elected representatives to ensure political stability in the country and to assist the Rakyat in their respective constituencies.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s Razak Faculty of Technology and Informatics lecturer Associate Prof Dr Mazlan Ali said the support is an effort to assist the government to formulate policies that can help the people and at the same time provide a positive check and balance.

"From another angle such a move can be seen as a reconciliation process whereby the government considers the request of the Opposition for allocation and that will lead to stability.

"We feel that if the Opposition agrees to such an effort, there will be an agreement through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or something similar that can form the basis for cooperation that can ensure stability and after the signing of the MoU, the people can view the action of the six MPs as a noble initiative towards ensuring the welfare and wellbeing of the people in their respective constituencies,” he told Bernama.

The six MPs from Parti Pribumi Bersatu (Bersatu) who pledged their support for the Prime Minister are Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Datuk Dr Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar) and Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanafi (Tanjong Karang).

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof was reported as saying the Unity Government Secretariat Supreme Leadership Council has agreed in principle to consider extending allocations to elected representatives from the Opposition.

Fadillah said a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be drawn up and extended to the Opposition for further discussions.

However, touching on the issue (MPs supporting PM), Dr Mazlan said the action by Bersatu to amend the party’s constitution to strip membership of MPs or State Assemblymen who switched sides or supported opposition parties with immediate effect, as something that remains unclear.

"From the political angle, I see the move by politicians to not agree with the six MPs, as a mere motivation to retain their status in the party.

"From the legal point of view, I am not clear and if such an action happens, the legal process would take time and after three years, there cannot be an election for the Parliament seat,” he said.

University of Malaya’s Academy of Malay Studies Associate Professor Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said the action of the six MPs to support the government offers a different perception among politicians although it is just a pledge and not a decision to join any other party.

"For supporters of Bersatu, they will view them as traitors and there are some who say it is up to the people to decide the allocation from the government and be chanelled straight to the people.

"They only pledged their support and declared that they are still with the party (Bersatu). The Bersatu leadership must not be upset or angry and should not take hurried action against the six MPs,” he said.

Meanwhile, University of Malaya Adjunct Professor Datuk Sabirin Ja'afar said the action by the Bersatu leadership to ‘threathen’ the six MPs can be termed as an action that can be looked at from the legal point of view under Section 124 of the Penal Code since such a move is against democracy.

"If there is a breach, anyone can lodge a police report and investigations carried out and if there are elements found to have infringed democracy, a report can be sent to the Attorney General’s office for further action,” he said. - BERNAMA