SHAH ALAM: Despite being vocal on religious and racial matters, Perikatan Nasional top leaders were barely present in Parliament to face Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the Prime Minister Question Time (PMQT), said PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
Saifuddin said that since the PMQT was introduced in the Parliament sitting last month, Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin, Perikatan chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang had never fielded questions to Anwar.
“It has been weeks since the Opposition leader was there. I don’t know where the Pagoh MP (Muhyiddin) was and I did not even see the Marang MP’s (Hadi) shadow.
“Outside they are champions on racial and religious issues. But inside Parliament, they don’t even dare to fight like men,” said Saifuddin during his winding-up speech in the PKR Special National Congress in Stadium Melawati yesterday.
During the PMQT session in Parliament every Tuesday, the Prime Minister has 30 minutes to take questions raised by MPs in the august House.
Meanwhile, Saifuddin said it is time for PKR to go on the offensive against Perikatan ahead of the upcoming six state elections.
Saifuddin pointed out that the Opposition had even gone against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong after Abdul Hadi said there would be attempts to topple the present government.
“This is too arrogant (of the Opposition),” he said.
Saifuddin also criticised Perikatan for constantly politicising Islam.
Later in his speech, Saifuddin said PKR would focus on winning Kedah, in the upcoming state elections.
“I don’t want to enter the Kelantan and Terengganu territory so we have a strong Opposition voice.
“The best approach is to focus on Kedah. Focus on Kedah and they (Opposition) will not be able to focus on Selangor and Negri Sembilan,”
“We must mobilise all of our strength towards Kedah,” he said.
Kedah is presently led by Perikatan with 21 state seats out of the total 33.
Six states are due for elections this year – Kedah, Negri Sembilan, Selangor, Penang, Terengganu and Kelantan.
Presently Selangor, Penang and Negri Sembilan are held by Pakatan.
