KLANG: Opposition MPs who have conveyed their support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his government did it out of desperation, claimed Perikatan Nasional leaders.
According to Perikatan, since the elected representatives do not receive any financial allocations from the Federal Government to manage their constituencies, some of them feel this was their only way out.
“That is the only reason why they pledged their support to Anwar and the government,’’ claimed Selangor Perikatan secretary Dr Afif Bahardin.
So far six Perikatan MPs – all of them from Bersatu – have declared their support for Anwar and his government.
They are Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang) and Tanjong Karang MP Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi, who conveyed his support on Wednesday.
Dr Afif, who is also from Bersatu, said four of the six, with the exception of Syed Abu Hussin and Suhaili, are first-timers, which he reckoned were unable to handle the pressure of not having money to service their constituencies.
“Opposition politicians are all ordinary people who do not have their own money to dispense to the ground.
“But this is not the way to do it,’’ said Dr Afif, adding that there are many other ways to raise funds.
Dr Afif, who is the Taman Medan assemblyman, said there are many government agencies willing to work with Opposition elected representatives as their (the government agencies’) main aim is to solve the people’s problems.
He said by bailing out from a united Perikatan front, the MPs exhibited weakness in character.
“If they feel they cannot fulfil their responsibilities, the honourable thing to do would be to resign as MPs,’’ said Dr Afif, who also lambasted the government of the day for not rejecting the support of the six MPs in spite of its support for the anti-hopping law.
On the fate of the Tanjong Karang constituents, he said Perikatan is not unduly worried as it has two capable assemblymen from the two state seats of Permatang and Sungai Burong, both within the parliamentary constituency, to manage the constituents.
However, he added, the Bersatu leadership will be meeting on Sunday to discuss the decision of their six renegade MPs.
Former six-term Tanjong Karang MP Tan Sri Noh Omar’s daughter Nurul Syazwani Noh, who is with Bersatu, is the Permatang assemblyman, while PAS’ Dr Mohd Zamri Mohd Zainuldin helms Sungai Burong.
Selangor PAS secretary Roslan Shahir said it is exceptionally difficult for Bersatu elected representatives to serve the people without funding as the party has yet to develop a strong network on the ground.
“It’s not that bad for PAS (even without federal allocations) as our grassroots machinery is strong, and we are funded by our members,’’ said Roslan, adding that he knew Dr Zulkafperi’s service centre was still not operational due to lack of funds.
Meanwhile, Nurul Syazwani said she managed to speak with Dr Zulkafperi, who told her that it was a difficult decision for him to make.
Apparently, in a message to her, Dr Zulkafperi said “without any financial allocation, I felt this was the best decision, which a large number of Tanjong Karang people would have wanted”.
