PAS chief: It’s the Opposition’s right to topple govt

KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang (pic) has refused to back down on his claim that the unity government will collapse soon, but instead defended it and said the Opposition had every right to try and topple it.

Despite criticism of his earlier remarks, the PAS president said his claim was “merely political” and something “normal” in politics.

“Matters like a vote of no confidence, collecting statutory declarations and government supporters who are no longer loyal – these are normal.

“We have the right to plan, and no one can stop us from making plans (to topple the government),” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby here yesterday.

The Opposition had every right to try and topple the unity government, said Abdul Hadi when asked whether there were attempts to oust the Federal Government.

He also claimed there were hints of disunity among members of the unity government.

“We are seeing some signs of unhappiness shown by component parties within the unity government,” he said.

“That is happening now and it is not something impossible.”

Asked if such efforts were against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s advice to not create instability, Abdul Hadi said the country upheld the Constitution and practised democracy.

During his debate on Budget 2023 on Feb 28, the Marang MP told the Dewan Rakyat that Perikatan Nasional should not be blamed if the unity government collapsed.

Instead, the government should acknowledge its own flaws and weaknesses, he added then.

At another event subsequently, he repeated his prediction that the current administration would fall soon.

On March 3, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim retorted by telling Abdul Hadi that it was his right to plan and dream of the government collapsing.

On a separate matter, Abdul Hadi said there were no issues with Opposition leaders being dragged to court to face corruption charges.

“They can be charged – even PAS welcomes it. We can be charged.

“But Pakatan Harapan must be fair when it comes to such cases,” he said, adding that it did not mean that those who were charged were guilty either.

Two Bersatu leaders – Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan and Segambut Bersatu deputy chief Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad – were charged in court last month with accepting bribes over the Jana Wibawa scheme.

They pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Jana Wibawa (Jana Ekonomi Pemerkasaan Kontraktor Bumiputra Berwibawa) was set up in November 2020 with the aim of empowering bumiputra contractors struggling during the Covid-19 pandemic.