YET another Bersatu lawmaker has declared support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the unity government.
Bukit Gantang MP Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal informed the Dewan Rakyat during the supplementary question for the Prime Minister’s Question Time this morning (Nov 28), making him the fifth from the party to do so.
“Speaking for myself, I’m ready to assist the government in building a Madani community, and towards addressing the issue of the rising cost of living,” he said.
“I hereby announce that Bukit Gantang supports Tambun (Anwar) as the 10th prime minister and his Madani government. Thank you.”
Syed Abu Hussin now joins Labuan MP Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman, Kuala Kangsar MP Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid, Gua Musang MP Azizi Abu Naim, and Jeli MP Zahari Kechik in backing Anwar.
Earlier in his speech, Syed Abu Hussin called for all MPs to set aside rivalries as division is the real threat to Malaysia, and urged former premiers Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also the Bersatu president, and Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to help Anwar.
He pointed out that the real threats that the country is currently facing are not from foreign entities or even the communists but rather, from disunity among its people.
This, he added, would affect the government in its efforts to steer the country’s economy and address issues such as increasing prices and rising costs of living.
“Thus, for the sake of our beloved country, I ask Tambun, Pagoh (Muhyiddin) and Bera (Ismail Sabri) to ‘buang yang keruh dan ambil yang jernih’ (take the good and leave the bad). Let’s help Tambun to build a Madani community.
“And to opposition MPs, let’s do our best to negotiate with the government until we can reach an understanding like what was done during Bera’s time as PM.”
Recall that on Nov 10 Syed Abu Hussin had said in the Dewan Rakyat while debating the Supply Bill 2024 at the committee stage that he would back Anwar if the government would give him RM30 mil to repair and upgrade public facilities in his Perak constituency.
Equal CDF to all MPs
His announcement was met with complaints from Kota Bahru MP Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan who again called for Anwar to give equal constituency development funds (CDF) to all MPs.
“CDF allocations should be given (equally) to all. Not based on who supports the government,” said the Perikatan Nasional chief whip.
In response, Anwar asked why Muhyiddin had not given allocations to Pakatan Harapan MPs when he was helming the PN-led government.
The prime minister also urged the opposition to put an end to any plot to topple his government.
“Every month you say that you want to take over the government. But every month a (PN) MP is pledging support (for the unity government). So, stop these ideas of toppling the government,” he remarked.
“I’m not asking you to pander to the prime minister. I want to stress here that I’m willing to give every MP the allocation, but there are rules. Meet (deputy prime minister) Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof and discuss the matter.
“Fadillah won’t say, ‘Support the prime minister to get your allocation’. But you don’t even want to discuss it, so how (can we give allocations to the opposition)?”
Formerly of UMNO, Syed Abu Hussin had first won the Bukit Gantang seat at the 2018 general election on a Barisan Nasional (BN) ticket.
He later quit the BN lynchpin and remained an independent MP for two years, before joining Muhyiddin’s Bersatu in June 2020. – Nov 28, 2023
Main pic credit: Harian Metro
