KUALA LUMPUR: PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang has been heavily criticised by backbencher MPs after stating that the Opposition has every right to try and topple the unity government.
PKR communications director Lee Chean Chung said it was rather worrying that the Opposition did not become a constructive force in nation-building.
“If the Opposition continues to not become a constructive force in our nation-building, it is really a waste of time and a waste of efforts in setting up the parliamentary institution,” said the Petaling Jaya MP.
He added that the MPs were there to provide checks and balances in government.
DAP vice-chairperson Nga Kor Ming said it was highly irresponsible and shocking for Abdul Hadi to make such a statement in light of the recent royal decree by the King to see the present unity government complete its full five-year term.
“After nearly five years of political turmoil, our country badly needs political stability to attract investment and create high-income jobs for Malaysians but PAS and Abdul Hadi, for their own selfish political agenda, has ignored the people’s interest.
“By making such a statement, it shows the PAS president is trying to sabotage our country’s economy and stop the unity government from helping the rakyat, which is the most important agenda,” he said when contacted.
To safeguard public order and stability of the country, the Teluk Intan MP suggested that the authorities, including the police, investigate what Hadi was planning to do.
Selayang MP William Leong said that after the government was formed following the elections, losing parties should move on and play their role as an Opposition.
“This (role) is to question government actions, proposed alternative policies and hold the government accountable to the people.
“But it must allow the government to administer the country. It is wrong to be on permanent election mode to topple the government at every opportunity,” he added.
Chan Foong Hin (PH-Kota Kinabalu) questioned whether the PAS president would incite the rakyat with baseless allegations along the lines of race and religion to achieve the Opposition’s goal.
He noted that the King had consented to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s appointment to helm the government, although the latter’s majority support could still be challenged in Parliament.
“What method will the PAS president be using to make MPs retract their vote of confidence away from Anwar?”
Meanwhile, Lee said it was certainly the ambition of any Opposition to become the government.
“But I am sure the people will evaluate their sincerity, efforts and also their commitment while they are still Opposition, which I find is lacking now in Perikatan Nasional simply because they are dreaming too much about becoming the government,” he said.
Lee said the Opposition had failed to present its alternative budget despite having a former prime minister and many former senior ministers as members.
“They also failed to provide a very clear direction for the country in their debates, simply because they are lacking clear guidelines and other policy options to (give) the rakyat and the country,” he added.
Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal said Abdul Hadi was merely expressing the possibilities within the democratic process to shift support with any bloc in the House.
“Whatever the current configuration is, it is not cast in stone,” said the Machang MP.
Wan Ahmad said coalitions within the government could pull out at any time.
“If they think the government or PM is not doing enough or is doing wrong things against voters’ interest, they can throw support behind other MPs who might have garnered enough support to form the government,” he said.
Speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday, Abdul Hadi said his statement was merely political in nature and something that was “normal”.
“Matters like a vote of confidence, collecting statutory declarations (SDs) and government supporters who are no longer loyal ... this is normal.
“We have the right to plan, and no one can stop us from making the plans,” he said.
Parti Bangsa Malaysia president Larry Sng Wei Shien said it would not be a surprise if there was a move to change the government before its full term as it had occurred thrice during the previous parliamentary term.
“Nevertheless, these are still early days for the unity government.
“As long as its approach to its partners is inclusive, there is no reason that this government won’t last the full five years,” the Julau MP said when contacted yesterday.
On March 1, Abdul Hadi said that he expected the government to fall in the near future, but he did not offer details on how the fall of the unity government would happen.
Meanwhile, Umno veteran Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad urged government leaders to be wary of Abdul Hadi’s latest warning that the unity government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would fall.
Shahrir alleged that this was because PAS was instrumental in the downfall of the Pakatan Harapan government led by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad back in 2020.
“Once again, PAS is taking steps to topple the unity government and reinstate a PAS-sponsored government.
“It worked once before. So, (they will) try again for a second time,” said Shahrir, a former Johor Baru MP, on Facebook.
