Perikatan-friendly Umno MPs held late night meeting at hotel near WTCKL

PETALING JAYA: As the political temperature heats up, a few Perikatan Nasional friendly Umno MPs were believed to have held a meeting at a hotel near its party headquarters at the World Trade Centre (WTCKL) in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday (Aug 3) night, reported Sinar Harian.

Among those who attended the meet at the hotel were Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, Maran MP Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Abd Muttalib, Kuala Kangsar MP Datuk Mastura Yazid and Ketereh MP Tan Sri Annuar Musa.

The meeting was believed to be held by the Umno MPs, following Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s announcement that 11 Umno MPs have signed statutory declarations to retract support from Perikatan and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister.

More developments are expected to unfold after Muhyiddin meets the King in his weekly pre-Cabinet audience every Wednesday morning.

Among the 11 Umno MPs included Ahmad Zahid, Pekan MP Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Machang MP Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub, Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Tanjong Karang MP Tan Sri Noh Omar, Pontian MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, Baling MP Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim and among others.

Others were Cameron Highlands MP Ramli Mohd Nor, Jerantut MP Datuk Ahmad Nazlan Idris, Parit MP Datuk Mohd Nizar Zakaria.

In the Tuesday evening press conference, Ahmad Zahid, who read out a press statement, said that following its Emergency Supreme Council meeting, Umno decided that it will stand with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and they will not side with the Perikatan government.

“The government led by Muhyiddin has clearly failed,” he said, adding that this was in line with Article 3.3 of the Umno Constitution that spelt out its role in upholding the position of Islam.

Ahmad Zahid also said the latest statement by Muhyiddin on tabling a motion to debate and annul the Emergency Ordinance in the upcoming September Parliament session does not reflect the current Constitutional crisis that was triggered by the revocation of the Emergency Ordinances.

“The government has clearly gone against the King’s decree and in fact, they have undermined His Majesty, who has decreed multiple times for all Emergency Ordinances to be debated and annulled before Aug 1, not September, in line with Article 150(3) of the Federal Constitution.”

In expressing unwavering loyalty to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Zahid said the Umno Supreme Council decided to retract support from the Perikatan government and Muhyiddin as prime minister.

“Muhyiddin must take responsibility for the failure and defiance of the government led by him, which clearly went against the King’s decree, by honourably resigning.

Barisan Nasional has 42 MPs from Umno (38), MCA (two), MIC (one) and PBRS (one).

Perikatan Nasional has 50 MPs from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (31), PAS (18) and Sabah STAR (one) and is supported by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (18), PBS (one) and four independents.