KUALA LUMPUR: While calling for an end to politicking and to focus on rebuilding the nation, Kuala Selangor MP Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad also told political opponents to stop “whoring” (melacurkan) the use of statutory declarations (SD).
He said the agreement between members of the unity government has spelt out the understanding established and the agreement to develop the nation.
“Unlike the ways of those on the other side, where they were buying, selling and auctioning through SDs which eventually led to the whoring of SDs,” he said while debating the motion of confidence for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s government in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (Dec 19).
Dr Dzulkefly said the country was undergoing a
political transition, which was the cause for the political mess in the country.
“For example, the (previous) dependence on SDs was what had caused the eighth Prime Minister (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) to use the SD to bargain and buy,” he said.
SD is the cause for all our problems because it can be auctioned, bought and prostituted to an extent where we were entangled in continuous political crisis.”
The government was toppled and we saw three prime ministers in the 14th Parliament because of SDs,” he added.
He said the support the current government had was also disputed, as it was claimed that Muhyiddin (PN-Pagoh) had the support.
Therefore, lauding Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s courage for proving the legitimacy of the support he commands in the House, Dr Dzulkefly said the move was absolutely reasonable.
He said the people are longing for a stable government, which will rebuild the country, fend for the people and reset the economic agenda.
“This was disputed by those who relied on SDs and not the politics of coalition and party,” he added.
A war of words later erupted after Datuk Abe Zul (PN-Besut) interjected despite being repeatedly told by Dzulkefly to be seated and said the ruling pact lacked courage and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would not be required if they were brave enough.
Dzulkefly said what is more important is how the government will work towards rebuilding the country.
He also noted that there was nothing unconstitutional about the MoU.
“I would like to stress once again that the MOU between the five members is a commitment,” he said, while adding that it was a document stating intention to stabilise the government while other provisions are within the constitution of individual parties.
“It is not a legally binding document,” he added.
Abe then retorted that there was no need for the members to oblige out of fear if the document was not legally binding.
Currently, Pakatan leads the unity government with 81 seats, Barisan has 30 seats, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (23), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (six), Warisan (three), two independents and one each from Parti Bangsa Malaysia, Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Malaysia and Muda.
Last Friday, these parties signed an agreement to commit to the Malaysia unity government led by Anwar.
