ANOTHER Bersatu MP has declared his support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s premiership.
Labuan MP Datuk Dr Suhaili Abdul Rahman, who is the second MP from the party to do so after Kuala Kangsar MP Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid, also expressed his support for Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor, who is also the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman.
In a statement today (Oct 30), he said his reason for supporting the Pakatan Harapan chairman’s administration is due to the rising cost of living in his constituency after thorough consideration and hearing the grievances of his constituents.
This includes the electricity and water supply disruptions in Labuan for the past 15 years which he described as “piecemeal basis”.
“To avoid any confusion, I would like to stress that by pledging my support to the Prime Minister and Sabah Chief Minister, I am still and will remain loyal and faithful as a member of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu),” he said.
“Despite the potential risk of facing disciplinary action from the party, I am willing to accept it to safeguard the wellbeing of my constituents, to ensure that they will no longer fall victim to circumstances or lack in various aspects of development due to the conflicts of political narratives.”
He said this is why he is pledging his support to the government’s policies and initiatives that prioritise the people’s welfare until the next general election.
He also said his decision to support the Prime Minister is entirely voluntary, free from external pressure, and driven by a sincere desire to benefit the people of Labuan.
Earlier this month, Iskandar Dzulkarnain did the same thing, prompting Bersatu to issue him with a show cause letter.
In a statement on Friday (Oct 27), party secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said Bersatu’s top leadership had discussed Iskandar Dzulkarnain’s position and the disciplinary board had issued him a show cause letter before any action is taken according to the party’s constitution.
Recall that earlier, Hamzah, who is also the opposition leader, had claimed that Iskandar Dzulkarnain was pressured by the government into supporting Anwar’s leadership.
Hamzah had alleged that Iskandar Dzulkarnain was brought to meet a top officer of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and threatened with corruption charges if he refused to pledge his support for the government.
However, on Oct 18, Anwar denied the “serious allegation” and asked Hamzah to lodge a report against him with evidence.
MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki had also denied the allegation, stressing that the commission was not involved in any such meeting. – Oct 30, 2023
Main pic credit: Bernama
