UMNO and Barisan Nasional Members of Parliament will not support a no-confidence vote if it arises when Parliament convenes, said Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The Umno vice-president said this was in line with the decision the coalition’s MPs have agreed to for Parliament to convene.

“We sincerely hope that the parliamentary sitting will focus on the issues facing the people in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Therefore, in order to uphold the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decree, we agree not to support the no-confidence motion if it is raised,” he said in a statement.

Ismail Sabri said BN’s lawmakers have also agreed to continue to support the National Recovery Plan announced by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin as an effort in strengthening the measures to control the spread of the virus.

“BN ministers and deputy ministers will ensure full commitment in discharging their respective duties and roles, especially involving tasks and portfolios that are directly related to curbing the spread of Covid-19, vaccination implementation and economic recovery of the people and the country,” said Ismail Sabri who is also the defence minister.

He added that the priority was for the survival of the people with a focus on security and prosperity as well as the future of Malaysia.

Last month, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang said there would not be a no-confidence motion against the Muhyiddin Yassin government if the prime minister was willing to convene Parliament to form a united parliamentary front in the war against Covid-19.

Muhyiddin had previously said a committee comprising government and opposition representatives had been formed to look into important aspects before Parliament convenes.

He said the committee would consider whether it should be a physical or hybrid parliamentary sitting.

On June 16, the Agong, after a meeting with the Malay rulers, issued a statement calling for Parliament to sit and debate the Covid-19 response.

The Malay rulers also called for the same in a separate statement. They also said the emergency should not be extended beyond August 1.

The king said Parliament should be allowed to debate the Emergency Ordinances and National Recovery Plan to exit the Covid-19 pandemic.

Parliament and state assembly sittings have till now been suspended because of the emergency order effective from January 11 to August 1.

Ismail Sabri, who is senior member of Muhyiddin’s cabinet, signed off his statement as the Umno vice-president.

He is largely seen as wanting to continue supporting Muhyiddin and Perikatan Nasional despite party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s stand of wanting to cut off ties.

Zahid is also seen to be willing to work with Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Harapan to form a new federal government.

Earlier today, former Umno Supreme Council member Nazri Aziz was reported in Sinar Harian as admitting to collecting 25 statutory declarations (SDs) from BN lawmakers in support of Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

Nazri said that his objective was to oppose Zahid and PKR president Anwar who are said to be on their own agenda in collecting SDs to make Anwar the prime minister (PM).

Nazri, however, has denied that they were supporting Hishammuddin to topple the government or replace Muhyiddin as PM.

The Padang Rengas MP and former tourism minister said the group wanted to show that there were 25 BN MPs who did not support Anwar for PM.

Meanwhile, Sinar Harian also reported that Anwar had similarly collected 115 votes to support his bid to be PM.

Quoting sources, the Malay daily said the SDs, containing 115 MP signatures, had been presented to the king during their meeting last week.

“I understand that Anwar has presented the SDs from 115 MPs to the king. We were also told that the palace is now verifying the list as there is conflicting support for Hishammuddin and Anwar,” the source told Sinar Harian. – June 23, 2021.