11-20-2023, 10:01 AM
Accepting support from Bersatu defectors could open door to massive political instability
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THE decision by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) leadership to accept all the four Bersatu MPs who have begun to support the unity government by way of a loophole in the anti-party hopping law is fraught with danger and could even lead to a Sheraton 2.0 move.
The anti-party hopping law which was rushed through the legislature has a number of loopholes, one of which can be manipulated by the defecting MPs under the guise of wanting parliamentary allocations for their constituents to go against their own party.
This could even turn out to be a trap by the opposition Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition to test the effectiveness of the anti-hopping legislation.
If these four MPs can now support the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim administration, why can’t it also be vice-versa?
The unity government is still holding on to a two thirds majority even though MUDA MP Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman’s refusal to render support meant that there is currently one seat short of a two thirds majority.
Having been convicted on corruption charges recently, the Muar MP is definitely not going to support the unity government any longer and may even hope that PN will capitalise on the void.
Even then, there is no valid reason to invite trouble by admitting Bersatu Party MPs to shore up the already overwhelming support for the unity government.
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The anti-party hopping law which was rushed through the legislature has a number of loopholes, one of which can be manipulated by the defecting MPs under the guise of wanting parliamentary allocations for their constituents to go against their own party.
This could even turn out to be a trap by the opposition Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition to test the effectiveness of the anti-hopping legislation.
If these four MPs can now support the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim administration, why can’t it also be vice-versa?
The unity government is still holding on to a two thirds majority even though MUDA MP Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman’s refusal to render support meant that there is currently one seat short of a two thirds majority.
Having been convicted on corruption charges recently, the Muar MP is definitely not going to support the unity government any longer and may even hope that PN will capitalise on the void.
Even then, there is no valid reason to invite trouble by admitting Bersatu Party MPs to shore up the already overwhelming support for the unity government.
- More -