Consensus dinner ends with 131 MPs all smiles

MPs leaving the dinner that was held in Sheraton PJ.

PETALING JAYA: A dinner of 131 MPs from both sides of the divide but in support of Prime MinisterTun Dr Mahathir Mohamad serving a full term ended with all smiles.

About a hundred supporters from the various parties were also gathered to show their support.

Sources said that the briefings inside were welcome for all those who had signed the statutory declaration, and the atmosphere was jovial and friendly.

The dinner, which was attended by MPs from six parties - Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), PKR, Warisan, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Umno and PAS - lasted about two hours.

Those from PKR belonged to the faction supporting Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.

A source said that during the dinner, there were no speeches but the presidents of the parties as well as Azmin gave a briefing on their support for the pending new cooperation between the parties to form a new government.

"The MPs sat in their parties and were given a briefing by their various leaders. There was no speech. It was a show of solidarity as this was the first time those who had signed the SD were gathered in one place," the source said.

Azmin later met with his supporters behind closed doors after the dinner.