‘Let the people choose a new govt’

Clear stance: Takiyuddin (right) and Annuar at the press conference at the Umno headquarters at PWTC. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno, PAS, MCA and MIC have called for a snap election to resolve the political impasse in the country.

Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa said the four parties and PBRS unanimously agreed that a dissolution of Parliament was the only way forward.

The Ketereh MP said the parties have rejected a proposal by interim Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to form a unity government.

“After our parties met and discussed, we agreed to make a clear stance on this. We ask that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong allow for Parliament to be dissolved, to pave way for fresh polls. Let the people choose their new government, ” he told a press conference at the Umno headquarters here yesterday.

Also present at the press conference was PAS secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan and PBRS deputy president Arthur Kurup.

Annuar revealed that the MPs of the parties concerned had made their views known to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong during their interview sessions at Istana Negara yesterday.

He said on Sunday, the parties had initially agreed to form a coalition government headed by Dr Mahathir – on condition that DAP would not be part of it.

“The leaders of our parties signed a statutory declaration on this and gave it to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong when we had an audience with the King on Sunday, ” he said.

However, he said things changed when Dr Mahathir announced his resignation as prime minister, and then subsequently appointed interim Prime Minister by the King.

“Before our audience with the King, our party leaders had a meeting with the Prime Minister. He discussed with us the possibility of a unity government.

“He explained that the government will be formed and the Prime Minister will choose individuals, not parties, to be a part of it.

“In principle, it goes against our party’s stance. Therefore, we came to a decision to support only the dissolution of Parliament for fresh polls to be held, ” said Annuar.

He described Dr Mahathir’s idea of a unity government as “hypocritical”.

“Even with four parties, their government collapsed. And the same person is going to lead more parties? There will be a bigger collapse.

“We do not want the people to be cheated twice, ” said Annuar.

Takiyuddin said the new coalition proposed by the Opposition parties was suggested to be known as Perikatan Nasional.

“In fact, we have obtained the support of 130 MPs. But what was planned did not go through due to the Prime Minister’s resignation.

“So now, we feel the best option is to dissolve Parliament. Give back the mandate to the people and let the people choose their government, ” said the Kota Baru MP.

It is learnt that Dr Mahathir is proposing to lead a unity government by inviting lawmakers from across the Opposition parties to join him.

Sources were quoted as saying that Dr Mahathir proposed the idea of a non-partisan and grand coalition during a meeting yesterday morning with leaders of major political parties from both sides of the divide.

Such a move would see the country being governed by a non-partisan unity government with no political entity.

Dr Wee said the party presidential council had in its meeting yesterday unanimously decided that the power to decide should be returned to the people.

“We see that the fairest and best way forward is for Parliament to be dissolved, and fresh elections to be called. This is what we have presented to the King, ” he said.

The Ayer Hitam MP said the political crisis was a “self-inflicted destruction” among Pakatan Harapan partners.

“It was their own doing and mistakes that have caused its collapse, ” he said.

He said MCA was ready to face the people.

“Let them judge our performance throughout the past 22 months, ” he said, adding that the party’s priority was for a strong coalition to aid the national economy.

Over at the Pakatan Harapan presidential council meeting yesterday evening, none of the top leaders responded when asked about the proposal to go back to the polls.

PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, party adviser Lim Kit Siang, deputy chairman Gobind Singh Deo and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu were among those who attended.