DPM: We will continue to support Perikatan until confidence vote

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob says 31 Barisan Nasional MPs will continue to support the Perikatan Nasional government and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as Prime Minister until the motion of confidence is tabled in Parliament.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the MPs had put down their signatures to continue supporting Perikatan and Muhyiddin, as resigning from their various posts in the government now would be tantamount to betrayal of the trust of the people.

“The King had consented for a motion of confidence to be tabled in Parliament whereby the MPs could individually state their stance.

“We will not trigger the downfall of the government by retracting our support as we are responsible MPs who will not be disloyal to the King,” he said at a press conference at the DBKL Auditorium here yesterday flanked by 20 MPs.

Among those present were Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, Padang Rengas MP Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, Kota Tinggi MP and National Unity Minister Datuk Seri Halimah Sadique, Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa, MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan and MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

Ismail Sabri, who is Umno vice-president, held up a list of another 10 MPs who signed their support but who could not be present due to various commitments.

He said Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein as well as Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican were also part of the 31 but had ministerial duties to attend to.

Ismail Sabri added that any moves made to prematurely lead to the collapse of the government before a motion of confidence could be tabled would be going against His Majesty.

“This includes sending statutory declarations (SDs) and doing anything that could cause the government to collapse.

“Istana Negara is no longer accepting SDs or any letters of support. There was a statement by the Umno president that he would present more names (of MPs who have withdrawn their support for Muhyiddin) but this is against the King’s decision,” he said.

Ismail Sabri added that they had not broken ranks with Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Barisan chairman, saying that party matters would be discussed later.

“As for now, we are stating where we stand. This is about us Barisan MPs adhering to what has been stated by the King that we state our support in Parliament,” he said.

“There are four MPs among our 41 MPs who are not from Umno and, therefore, retraction of support for Perikatan should be made at a Barisan meeting as we stand in Parliament as Barisan MPs.”

Ismail Sabri also blamed Ahmad Zahid for starting the problem when he said that the Umno supreme council had decided to retract the support when such a decision should have been made by Barisan.On possible disciplinary action by Umno against him and other Umno MPs who continued to support Perikatan and Muhyiddin, Ismail Sabri said: “I do not know what mistake I have made. Is following the King’s decree a mistake?”