Cabinet doesn't see Sosma defeat as violation of bipartisan MOU, says Khairy

SEPANG: The Cabinet does not deem the defeat of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) motion in Parliament as a violation of the bipartisan memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the government and Pakatan Harapan, says Khairy Jamaluddin (pic).

The Health Minister said the matter was discussed in the Cabinet meeting on Friday (March 25) and the consensus was that the motion's failure was not construable to be a vote of no confidence towards the Government.

"The Cabinet discussed what happened in the Dewan Rakyat recently and we find that the matter did not contravene the MOU.

"The MOU states that the Opposition would support or abstain during a vote in Parliament, but this only applies to certain motions such as the Budget or a vote of no confidence.

"It does not apply to motions on normal laws like Sosma.

"When the Opposition voted against the Sosma motion, it was not to show that it was a vote of no confidence towards the government.

"It is just that they disagreed with the proposed extension to the enforcement of Sosma," said Khairy at a press conference here Saturday (March 26).

On Wednesday (March 23), the Sosma motion which was tabled by Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin was not approved by the Dewan Rakyat through a bloc vote.

Many leaders in Umno viewed the Opposition's decision to vote against the motion as a contravention of the MOU.