Zuraida’s proposal rattles Umno, PAS and GPS lawmakers

Reports by MARTIN CARVALHO, HEMANANTHANI SIVANANDAM, RAHIMY RAHIM and TARRENCE TAN

A PROPOSAL by Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin to hold local council elections nationwide appears to have irked MPs from Umno, PAS and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).

Tan Sri Noh Omar (BN-Tanjong Karang) claimed that Umno and PAS MPs were slighted by Zuraida’s proposal during her speech in Parliament, describing local council elections as a Pakatan Harapan manifesto.

“I want to remind my friend who already became a minister about the feelings of Umno, PAS and other coalition partners.

“To the Housing and Local Government Minister, I’m sorry, I was hurt and shocked when you told the House that since 2018 until now, it (local council elections) is still in preparation to be tabled to the Cabinet.

“I was even sadder when she proposed for Selangor and Penang to be part of the trial.

“I want to stress here in this House that PAS and Umno reject local council elections.

“Whose manifesto is this? This is Pakatan’s manifesto,” Noh said.

To a question from Fahmi Fadzil (PH-Lembah Pantai) if he would withdraw his support to the government should the proposal go ahead, Noh said he would not.

“I hope the minister will understand. This is a Pakatan proposal and the government is Perikatan now. PAS is clear about its stand and Umno as well,” he said.

Datuk Dr Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh (PAS-Pasir Puteh) subsequently stood up and objected to local council elections on behalf of PAS.

Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi (GPS-Kapit), who is GPS secretary-general, also stood up and said: “Sarawak doesn’t want it.”

On Tuesday, Zuraida had told Parliament that it would cost over RM300mil to hold local council elections nationwide and the matter was still under study.