Pakatan should not burn bridges with Muda, says Pasir Gudang MP

JOHOR BARU: Pakatan Harapan should not burn its bridges with Muda if it wants to carry out reforms in Malaysia, says Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim.

The PKR lawmaker said that it needs a two-thirds majority in Parliament if it wants to reform some of the country’s important institutions as that is needed to make amendments to the Federal Constitution.

“Today, the government only has 147 MPs in the Dewan Rakyat but a two-thirds majority approval requires the support of at least 148 MPs. This is where Muda is important, even though the party only has one seat,” he said on Thursday (Sept 21).

Hassan added that although Muda has moved to the opposition bloc in Parliament, they did not join Perikatan Nasional, which is the largest with 74 MPs.

He said this was seen on Tuesday (Sept 19) when Perikatan MPs left the Dewan Rakyat en masse when Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim wrapped up his speech in the 12th Malaysia Plan half term review motion debate.

Hassan added Syed Saddiq stayed in the Dewan Rakyat and was the only Opposition MP who remained in the Dewan Rakyat and participated in the debate until the motion is passed.

He then said that the government is currently trying to carry out two very important reforms related to national institutions; the Bill related to the separation of powers of the Attorney General and Public Prosecutor and the revival of the Parliament Services Act.

Hassan added that both require amendments to the Federal Constitution.

He then said that Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has stated that he will support the government in its efforts to carry out reforms involving amendments to the Federal Constitution.

Hassan then added that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim needs to pay attention to the positive stance of Muda, which wants to play a role as a constructive Opposition.

“The rakyat have not forgotten the role of Syed Saddiq as the youth and sports minister who spearheaded the efforts to amend the Constitution in 2018 to 2019 in Parliament with regards to the Undi18 Bill and Automatic Voter Registration in Parliament,” he said.

“Muda is not the current opposition party which is destructive and opposes just because it wants to oppose. That is why Pakatan must not burn its bridge with Muda,” added Hassan.