Those challenging PN's legitimacy have failed, declares Hadi
Those challenging the legitimacy of the current government have failed to prove that Perikatan Nasional does not command a majority in the Dewan Rakyat, said PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.
"To date, those who challenge the legitimacy has failed. Be it through a vote at the policy stage or committee stage," he said in reference to the opposition's failure to defeat the government's Budget 2021...
Those challenging the legitimacy of the current government have failed to prove that Perikatan Nasional does not command a majority in the Dewan Rakyat, said PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.
"To date, those who challenge the legitimacy has failed. Be it through a vote at the policy stage or committee stage," he said in reference to the opposition's failure to defeat the government's Budget 2021.
In September, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim claimed Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had lost his majority and that the PKR president has secured a "formidable" majority to form the new government.
Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun has not allowed for Muhyiddin's majority to be tested through a confidence vote.
The Budget 2021 vote is seen as a proxy confidence vote that can serve as an alternative to dislodge Muhyiddin.
However, the opposition, to date, has failed to muster sufficient numbers to defeat the budget.
At the committee stage, the budget has passed 22 out of 27 votes. The opposition will have a last shot at defeating the budget next week.
The narrowest the budget has passed is with a six-vote majority.
Despite the slim majority, Hadi said it was still a win for the government.
"In a democracy, even winning with one vote is still a victory," he told journalists during a dialogue with the media at the PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.
Hadi added that this was not the first time Anwar claimed to command majority support.
On a separate issue, Hadi confirmed that Perak ruler Sultan Nazrin Shah has granted an audience to PAS leaders but did not reveal the date.
"When the time comes, we will go before (the ruler)," he said.
PAS leaders had been seeking an audience to apologise after they snubbed the ruler who had summoned them to the palace.
Sultan Nazrin had wanted to establish who the three Perak PAS assemblypersons supported before he appointed a new menteri besar but PAS, which was upset at Umno, did not want to make its position known at the time.
Umno's Kota Tampan assemblyperson Saarani Mohamad was eventually appointed as the new Perak menteri besar.
Hadi said the Perak crisis, triggered after Umno ousted Ahmad Faizal Azumu as the menteri besar even though he was from their coalition partner Bersatu, is now largely resolved.
The Marang MP also welcomed a proposal by Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin to form a grand coalition of coalitions comprising BN, PN and GPS.
However, Hadi said PAS has yet to decide whether to use the PN logo in the next general election, stating that the party will only cross the bridge when it comes to it.
Meanwhile, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, who was also present, acknowledged that PAS has limited its engagement with the media since joining the PN government in March.
"Sometimes, the best answer to all the questions is to smile in all situations," he said.
PAS is in an awkward position as the tension between Umno and Bersatu intensified. All three are part of the PN government.
"In an uncertain political situation such as this, PAS has taken a position where only certain people can issue statements such as the party president," he said.
Hey...manan boleh! Maruah will be exposed and shame will follow suit!
PAS tak ada malu! And in the process insults monarchy!