Bukit Gantang MP says will support PM if funds given

KUALA LUMPUR: Another Bersatu MP has pledged to follow his other four colleagues in declaring his support for the Prime Minister if he receives development funds for his constituency.

Bukit Gantang MP Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (pic) said he is requesting RM30mil for various purposes such as fixing and upgrading roads and public facilities.

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“I would like to see how fair the Madani government is in giving allocations.

“In this noble House, if I manage to get these allocations to develop my constituency, I will pledge support for Anwar and the Madani government. Thank you,” said Syed Abu while debating Budget 2024 at the committee level in Parliament yesterday.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Umno President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said more opposition MPs are expected to shift their allegiance to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, other than the four Bersatu MPs who have done so.

Although some may regard the shifting of allegiance from Perikatan Nasional to the Madani government as another form of “party hopping” despite the anti-hopping laws in place, Ahmad Zahid said the support offered by the Bersatu MPs is best accepted without prejudice.

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The Bagan Datuk MP further called on Umno divisions to continue to work hard to regain the votes for Umno in the next election and not be distracted by the shifting of allegiances.

He said this to the media yesterday after handing over the letters of appointment to the members of the Advisory Council of the National Association of Skilled Workers (PKPB) at Parliament here yesterday.

“We expect more than four MPs to shift their allegiance to Prime Minister Anwar. We must not be prejudiced and accept the support offered to the Prime Minister in good faith.

“However, as the four MPs from Bersatu were formerly Umno members, there might be discomfort on the part of Umno divisions in those constituencies where they shifted allegiance.

“This is due to the fact that in the last general election, Umno lost to these four MPs.

“Although there is a shift of allegiance from the MPs, Umno divisions should not be complacent but continue to work hard to regain the votes in the next election,” Ahmad Zahid said.

He also said the Umno Supreme Council has yet to discuss the scenario should those Bersatu MPs who have shifted allegiance request to rejoin Umno later on.

Earlier, Ahmad Zahid said technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates should earn a minimum wage of RM3,000 or there would not be takers if the wage is made the same as non-skilled workers.

The Rural and Regional Development Minister also stated that the TVET secretariat, which was formerly under the purview of the Higher Education Ministry, is now under the purview of the office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Stating that there will be a China-Malaysia Institute focused on TVET by next year in Johor, Ahmad Zahid said the TVET secretariat is currently in the midst of drafting the National TVET Policies – to be launched in next February, after Cabinet approval.

He also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the Programme of Malaysia-China Youth TVET Training between PKPB and Tang International Education, the coordinator of TVET institutes in China. The MOU targets 2,000 Malaysian youths to be trained at various TVET institutes in China.

A batch of 50 youths has so far completed electrical vehicle automotive courses in Hebei and another 200 Malaysian youths will be sent to TVET universities in China by the end of the year.