KUALA LUMPUR: The onus is on the Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin to prove that threats were used to secure support from MPs in Dewan Rakyat to pass Budget 2024, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
"It is a wild allegation. What do we need to do this? We have the support of 147 MPs in Parliament.
"If it is to pass the Budget and other (Bills), it is sufficient," the Pakatan Harapan secretary-general said at a press conference on Wednesday (Oct 18).
A government budget or Bill can be passed in Dewan Rakyat through a voice vote or majority vote if a bloc vote is requested.
A two-thirds majority (or 148 votes) is only needed when making amendments to the Federal Constitution.
Saifuddin was asked to comment on recent allegations by Hamzah that Bersatu's Kuala Kangsar MP Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid had been threatened and intimidated into supporting the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Opposition chief had claimed that the MP was brought to meet a top Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer on Oct 1 and was threatened with corruption charges if he refused to sign a statement stating his support for the government.
The MACC denied intimidating Hamzah and said any attempt to link them to Hamzah's decision was of ill-intent and an attempt to tarnish the MACC's image.
On Tuesday (Oct 17), Iskandar Dzulkarnain denied allegations he had been threatened with corruption charges and said he declared support for the Prime Minister so he could obtain funds for his constituents.
