PETRA Jaya MP Fadillah Yusof did not make a stand during a meeting last Tuesday to urge Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to complete his term of office, a Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) source said.

Fadillah, who is also Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chief whip, did not voice his support for the opposition lawmakers’ appeal, the source said.

“He appealed? No. I don’t think so,” a senior PBB leader said, refuting reports that Fadillah was among opposition leaders at the meeting between Dr Mahathir and opposition leaders earlier this week who pledged to support the prime minister should he serve out a full term.

Former Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein, PAS vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar and secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan were reportedly among opposition leaders present at the meeting.

Fadillah’s presence at the meeting is being questioned, as GPS chairman and Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg had previously said Sarawak would not take sides in the ongoing tussle over the prime minister post.

The source, who said Fadillah had yet to brief GPS leaders on the meeting, said the MP was called to attend without “knowing specifically what the meeting was about”.

“Perhaps Fadillah, in his capacity as GPS chief whip, obliged and went,” the source said.

Yesterday, Abang Johari, when quizzed about Fadillah’s presence at the meeting, said he had been invitated and went for a “chit chat”.

The chief minister had also said he did not know who extended the invitation, but was certain Fadillah was not involved in any debate over the prime minister’s term.

As all eyes were trained on the drama playing out for the top post, Daim Zainuddin, often described as Dr Mahathir’s “messenger boy”, flew quietly into Kuching for a meeting with Abang Johari.

A statement from the Chief Minister’s Office said the Council of Eminent Persons chairman and Abang Johari “discussed various matters of interest on national and state issues, economic development, in particular” during the half-hour-long meeting. – August 2, 2019.