UMNO was not involved in alleged attempts to woo the support of two Perikatan Nasional (PN) MPs for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, said UMNO supreme council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.He also said there is no need to attract support from the opposition because the unity government now has 148 MPs.
Two Bersatu MPs have so far voiced their support for Anwar, causing a rift within the PN coalition. They are Kuala Kangsar MP Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid and Labuan MP Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman. They did not leave their party.“The Prime Minister did not order anyone. I am under him; I am his deputy (Finance Ministry), I was never told to do such things because the current government is strong and stable.“For example, in Budget 2024, there is no opposition that stands up for division and voting because they (the opposition) know that there are so many people on the government’s side that they can’t win any votes in Parliament,” he said at a press conference after officiating the Kampung Masuk Takaful Programme at Dewan Homestay Kampung Puteri Menangis, Ayer Baloi today.Ahmad who is also the Johor UMNO deputy chairman pointed out that all MPs regardless of party are bound by the anti-jumping act.Yesterday (Nov 3), Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin alleged that there have been attempts to persuade PN federal lawmakers to defect through bribes.Hamzah claimed that several of his coalition colleagues had been approached by unnamed people who tried to convince them to support Anwar by offering some form of incentive, including money.However, when asked if PN would lodge any complaints or file a report with the police or other relevant authorities, Hamzah replied “no”. – Nov 4, 2023
Main photo credit: Bernama
