Second Bersatu MP supports Anwar

Labuan rep says move is to help constituency, will remain loyal to party

KOTA KINABALU: Another Perikatan Nasional MP has declared his support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Labuan MP Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman is the second MP from Bersatu to declare his support for the unity government led by Anwar.

Suhaili said his decision was because Labuan and its people had been “suffering for years” amid the increasing cost of living and longstanding unresolved issues in the island.

He also said he made the decision after looking at the concerns of the islanders who want to see urgent measures taken to ease the rising cost of living.

However, he added that he will remain a member of Bersatu and will stay loyal to the party.

“I believe the country’s economy needs to be improved for the sake of its prosperity and the wellbeing of the people.

“Therefore, I support the Prime Minister on any effort made to strengthen the national economy,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Suhaili said he was ready to face any disciplinary action by his party.

He is the second Perikatan MP to declare his support for Anwar.

Kuala Kangsar MP Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid had on Oct 12 declared his support for the Prime Minister’s economic policies in exchange for extra constituency funds, but said he would remain loyal to Bersatu.

In KUALA LUMPUR, Bersatu leader Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan said the party will meet soon to discuss Suhaili’s decision.

“There will be a discussion soon among party members and MPs. I believe that the party will make an announcement that suits the situation,” Wan Saiful, who is Tasek Gelugor MP, told reporters at the Dewan Rakyat.

PAS lawmaker Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said he believed that Suhaili and Iskandar’s support towards the government was insincere.

The Arau MP said the duo had to do so as they badly needed the allocations.

“I believe that they (Suhaili and Iskandar) are not honest with their support, they do that because they did not get the allocation and were also receiving pressure from their constituents,” Shahidan said when met in Parliament.

The former senior Umno member said constituency allocations should be distributed to all MPs regardless of party affiliation.

When wrapping up debates on the 12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review in September, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told the Opposition to hold proper discussions to seek extra allocations from the government instead of simply demanding them.

On Oct 25, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said that none of the Opposition lawmakers had come forward to meet him and negotiate allocations related to their constituency.

He said that only Muar MP Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman had done so, adding that he was still waiting for requests from the Perikatan members.