DAP remains opposed to the Muhyiddin administration and will vote out the prime minister in a confidence vote, party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng told The Malaysian Insight.
He said the party had always been opposed to the Perikatan Nasional government, which took over after the Pakatan Harapan government collapsed in February 2020.
“Our collective decision is to oppose PM Muhyiddin and his government. That hasn’t changed,” he said amid speculation that the party’s regular meeting tonight will discuss the impending confidence vote announced by Muhyiddin on Wednesday.
“We don’t have to discuss that as we already have a stand and all MPs back that, unlike other parties where MPs turn their back on party decisions,” said the Bagan MP.
Yesterday, a party source said the party’s monthly meeting would discuss whether to support the embattled prime minister and what to do if he resigned.
“The pulling out of 12 Umno MPs and the confidence motion has thrown several issues into the mix,” said Lim.
But Lim said there was no doubt over which way the party would vote.
“We have many issues to discuss and get feedback on. As far as the confidence vote goes, we will vote with the opposition bloc to remove the PM,” he said.
He also said DAP MPs could have personal opinions on the future after the vote, but they had no bearing on party decisions.
DAP publicity chief Tony Pua said on Wednesday that while a confidence vote was the opposition’s best chance to remove the prime minister who had betrayed the voters’ 2018 mandate, it could also allow Umno back into power.
“And when any Umno leader becomes prime minister, wouldn’t all the kleptocrats be set free?” he said.
Pua is believed to be referring to Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former president Najib Razak.
Zahid is currently facing trial for corruption while Najib was convicted of having received RM42 million from 1Malaysia Development Bhd unit SRC International Sdn last year and is now appealing the conviction. The former prime minister is also facing multiple charges in court for other 1MDB-related cases.
Other DAP lawmakers believe the vote was also an opportunity to end the Perikatan Nasional government’s mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic and economy.
“Malaysians everywhere are genuinely suffering from the mismanagement of the economy and this is our chance to bring them relief,” said Pua.
“Putting politics aside, Pakatan Harapan, together with Pejuang, Warisan, Muda, PSB and others, can do something good for the Malaysians, particularly the lower-income groups who have suffered even more under the PN government.”
On paper, Muhyiddin is estimated to have 103 votes among the Dewan Rakyat’s 220 MPs. Two lawmakers died last year.
The number is minus 12 from Umno – presumably from the 11 MPs present at Zahid’s press conference on Tuesday, plus Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, the Lenggong MP who resigned as energy and natural resources minister on the same day.
Pakatan Harapan has 88, while Warisan (8) and Pejuang (4) together have 12. Five more come from PSB (2), Muda (1), Upko (1) and one independent.
In total, those against Muhyiddin number 117. – TMI