PKR Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim voiced his disagreement for the memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed, thus joining former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in attacks against the deal between the unity government coalition partners.
While Hassan said in a statement today that he will vote freely against or for the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Muhyiddin said the MOA shows that Anwar does not have the support of all MPs in the Dewan Rakyat.
“On Dec 19, a sacred date in our Parliament, I declare here, I will vote freely according to my heart. I will give a vote of confidence to my friend, the PM.
“However, please listen to me. Do we have legitimacy?” he asked, questioning whether MPs have lost the freedom vote freely in the vote of confidence on Monday (Dec 19).
He also raised concerns on what he calls the potential “weaponisation” of the MOA.
“Let me get ‘beheaded’ but I’m not willing for democracy to be buried in Parliament,” Hassan said, adding that he will vote for Anwar on Monday by his own free will not because he is bonded by the MOA.
On Friday (Dec 16), Anwar and other leaders of parties that are part of the current government formally signed an MOA.
The MOA was signed by Anwar, BN chairperson Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor, Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg and Warisan president Mohd Shafie Apdal.
For Muhyiddin, a clause in the agreement would force MPs from government parties to vacate their seat if they do not support the PM in motions relating to confidence votes, supply bills or procedural motions.
Muhyiddin said that it was a clause not stipulated in any agreements or laws in the past.
“I have never seen such a thing being implemented in any law, except the one related to the act of party-hopping, which if not supported may cause an MP to relinquish his seat.
“So I see that thePMis not very confident that the confidence vote can proceed (without the agreement),” he was quoted as saying by Astro Awani. — Dec 18, 2022
