KUALA LUMPUR – Opposition lawmaker Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang-PN) has become the fifth Bersatu MP to declare support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s administration.
Syed Abu Hussin’s sudden declaration in the Dewan Rakyat today was met with much uproar in the lower House, with some government backbenchers heard expressing their support while the opposition bench jeered at his decision.
Prior to declaring his support, the former Barisan Nasional (BN) MP lauded Anwar (Tambun-PH) for his commitment to ensuring unity in the government and suggested that the prime minister consider setting aside his supposed grievances with his predecessors to develop a Madani nation.
“(Anwar’s) commitment to the necessity of unity is nothing new. When he contested under the BN banner for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency during the sixth general election in 1982, I campaigned (for Anwar) as well,” Syed Abu Hussin said in his supplementary question during Prime Minister’s Question Time today.
“Considering the unstable condition of our nation’s politics, how is the government planning to tackle rising costs of living and soaring prices of goods? As such, I would like to ask Pagoh (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) and Bera (Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob) to help Tambun (Anwar) in building a Madani society.
“I myself am ready to aid in creating a Madani society that can address the rising costs of living… with this, I declare my support for Tambun (Anwar) as the 10th prime minister,” he added.
In response, Anwar thanked his “old friend” for his support, reiterating that the floor remains open for the opposition to approach the government to discuss not only arrangements for equal allocations, but also to constructively air their insights on matters affecting the people.
Opposition whip Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (Kota Bharu-PN), however, appeared to take Syed Abu Hussin’s expression of support to heart, referring to his fellow Perikatan Nasional lawmaker as a “former friend” in his follow-up question to Anwar’s answer.
Earlier this month, Syed Abu Hussin told the Dewan Rakyat that he would support Anwar’s unity government if his request for RM30 million in funding for his constituency was granted.
Previously, four federal lawmakers from Bersatu had declared their support for Anwar, citing their shift in backing as being due to prioritising development and progress in their respective constituencies.
The four MPs are Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar-PN), Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan-PN), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang-PN) and Zahari Kechik (Jeli-PN).
Suhaili and Iskandar have been suspended from Bersatu for six and four years, respectively, while all four have reportedly provided their statements to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission after reports were lodged against them for alleged bribery and graft. – November 28, 2023