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KUALA LUMPUR – Two opposition lawmakers left the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and pledged support to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, prompting speculation that further defections will occur as Malaysia’s prime minister seeks to consolidate his position before the next meeting. of Parliament.
In a post on his Facebook page, Tan Sri Muhyiddin said that on Sunday (February 28) he received statutory statements (SD) from Julau MP Larry Sng Wei Shien and Tebrau MP Steven Choong Shiau Yoon at the who expressed their support for his government of Perikatan Nasional.
The statements were delivered after a Cabinet meeting in the administrative capital Putrajaya to commemorate the first anniversary of the PN administration.
“Today, I received SDs from two opposition MPs who expressed their support for the PN government,” Muhyiddin said on Sunday.
“This support will certainly strengthen the PN government in its efforts and plans to manage the Covid-19 pandemic and reactivate the country’s economy,” he added.
The move comes just days after the king, Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah, said that Parliament may meet during a state of emergency, a move that could allow the opposition to cast a new vote of no confidence against Muhyiddin.
On Muhyiddin’s advice, the King had declared a nationwide state of emergency in January that could last until August 1, as Malaysia struggled to control growing Covid-19 infections.
After invoking emergency powers, Mr. Muhyiddin suspended parliamentary sessions, which also resulted in the stalling of a vote of confidence against him.
However, he promised that general elections will be held once the emergency is lifted.
The PN became a minority government on January 12 after two Umno MPs withdrew their support, leaving it with only 109 seats in the 222-seat parliament, of which two seats are currently vacant. The incorporation of Sng and Choong would restore the slim majority of 111 PN deputies.
Sng resigned as Sarawak’s PKR chief on Saturday, while Choong resigned as Tebrau’s division chief after pledging his support for Muhyiddin.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Sebatik Assemblyman Hassan A Gani Pg Amir also announced that he was leaving Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan), an ally of the opposition Pakatan Harapan coalition.
Although he is now an independent assemblyman, Hassan said he now supports the PN Sabah state government under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah coalition.
More defections from the opposition, including from Warisan, are known to occur and a larger group of non-Malaysian leaders will join the PN before the next general election.
In response to the defections, Johor Women’s PKR chief Ms Napsiah Khamis said they were an act of treason towards the party and voters, and reminded Choong that he was elected on a PKR ballot by voters. who wanted the party to lead the constituency.
“Betrayal is a most abominable act; it taints the value of loyalty and causes harm that is both tangible and intangible,” he said in a statement Sunday.
“I urge all voters to use the upcoming general election to ensure that these false leaders are defeated,” he added.
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