MCA president Wee Ka Siong has denied attending a supposed meeting involving former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, some Barisan Nasional leaders and PAS.

Addressing the matter on Facebook, Wee explained that he accidentally met Ismail Sabri this morning in a restaurant at the Tropicana Golf & Country Resort after a friend had invited him for a meet up.

“I was there at the restaurant after a friend who is a businessman contacted me for a meet up. At the restaurant, I bumped into Ismail Sabri who had just finished his breakfast at another restaurant next to the Chinese restaurant where I was meeting my friend.

“I have no involvement in any meeting with any political parties. MCA has agreed to fullfil the Yang diPertuan Agong’s request for the country to move forward under a unity government,” said the Ayer Hitam MP.

Earlier today, Wee was accused of colluding with PAS and pro-Perikatan Nasional leaders from Umno after pictures of the alleged secret meeting went viral.

Among those pictured at the meeting were Ismail Sabri, former Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, Wee and Annuar’s press secretary Faisal Ismail Aziz.

The support of BN’s 30 lawmakers was vital in Pakatan Harapan chairman Anwar Ibrahim forming a new government after the general election.

The GE had returned no clear winners with a sufficient majority to form the government, resulting in the two biggest winners, PH and PN courting BN.

Anwar, 75, was sworn in as the prime minister on Thursday before Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, with the support of BN as well as Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and other small parties.

Yesterday, Anwar said his unity government has the support of 30 BN MPs as well as 23 from GPS, six from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, three from Warisan, and one from Parti Bangsa Malaysia.

Along with PH, the support of these lawmakers gives Anwar a “convincing” majority of 145 in the 222-seat parliament.

PN meanwhile had said it would play the role of an effective opposition and won’t join Anwar’s unity government. 

Umno vice president Ismail Sabri Yaakob denied there was a meeting to discuss new alliances yesterday at the Tropicana golf club.

Ismail Sabri said any meeting now involving him with PAS is seen as being traitorous while anyone meeting PH leaders are seen as heroes.

“Today you meet your friends from PAS and you are deemed a traitor, but if you meet PH people you are a hero out to save the party,” he was quoted as saying by news portal Malaysiakini.

Ten BN and Pas leaders were said to be involved in the meeting.

Ismail said he was attending a farewell party with the Prime Minister’s office staff, but it was spun into something else. – November 26, 2022.