PAKATAN Harapan (PH) lawmaker Fahmi Fadzil has lambasted Bersatu’s Muhyiddin Yassin and Mas Ermieyati Samsudin for their comments on the “illegality” of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between parties under Anwar Ibrahim’s government.

The communications and digital minister asked why Mas Ermieyati did not criticise PH when it signed a similar MOU with former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob when she was a deputy minister.

“The attack on the unity government was started by Muhyiddin and followed by Mas Ermieyati. Both had used the terms ‘dictatorship’ and ‘illegal’ as a basis to criticise the MOU signed between parties under the unity government.

“However, they are being hypocrites themselves. Where was Mas Ermieyati when we signed the MOU with Ismail? Under clause 3A of the MOU, it stated that PH must back the budget thus meaning we had no other choice. Was it not a dictatorship back then?

“We understood the need to have a stable government therefore we chose to sign the agreement. Mas Ermieyati was a deputy minister and did not make any noise when she was part of the government. Same goes to Muhyiddin,” said Fahmi.

On Friday, Muhyiddin, who is Bersatu president, declared that the terms in a recently inked MOU by members of the unity government, which would see lawmakers lose their seats if they vote against Anwar in a motion of confidence or any law tabled by the administration, is unconstitutional.

“I have never seen laws like this, and this could be applied if it touches on the anti-party hopping law. But this does not relate to the anti-party hopping law.

“There are some views saying that this agreement is unconstitutional and illegal,” he was quoted as saying.

Mas Ermieyati on the other hand said the agreement is a prelude to a dictatorship, adding that it is also illegal, dangerous and unenforceable.

The Bersatu women’s vice-chief said clause 4 of the agreement states that all MPs are required to vote or support the prime minister in motions relating to confidence votes, supply bills or procedural motions with effect on the federal government’s stability.

Meanwhile, PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli said all government MPs are free to vote based on their own views, except when it comes to matters relating to the legitimacy of the government.

The economy minister in a TikTok video explained that the bills and motions tabled in the Dewan Rakyat that affect the legitimacy of the government include a vote of confidence on the prime minister’s leadership and supply bills brought by Putrajaya.

“MPs were not free to vote based on their own views on these matters because of various articles and clauses in the Federal Constitution and the anti-party hopping law related to the government’s legitimacy,”he said.

Rafizi also took Muhyiddin to task, saying it is ironic that the opposition is criticising the MOU as undemocratic when Muhyiddin himself had declared an emergency and suspended parliament for six months when he was prime minister.

On Friday, it was reported that all parties in the unity government must ensure their lawmakers support Anwar and his administration in any confidence motion or bill in the Dewan Rakyat.

This is one of the five conditions outlined in the MOU signed by all the party leaders involved.

Any MP who votes against Anwar’s leadership or bills tabled by the government will automatically be deemed to have quit as a lawmaker.

The agreement was signed by PH, Barisan Nasional (BN), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), and Warisan.

The signatories are PH chairman Anwar, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, GPS chairman Abang Johari Openg, GRS chairman Hajiji Mohd Noor, and Warisan president Mohd Shafie Apdal.

The respective parties’ secretaries-general also signed the document. – December 18, 2022.