BARISAN Nasional (BN) should take action against its lawmakers who signed statutory declarations to support Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister, a DAP representative said.

Kampar MP Chong Zemin questioned why punishment was only meted out to Umno MPs but not BN representatives.

“Why were only Umno MPs punished for supporting Muhyiddin as prime minister but BN MPs got away? Why are certain BN MPs exempted from disciplinary action?

“Aren’t all BN MPs equal or are some more equal than others?” Chong asked in a statement.

Chong, who is also DAP’s publicity secretary, said he did not want to interfere in BN’s affairs but thought the action was important to ensure stability in the unity government.

“All efforts must be made to prevent a repeat of the Sheraton Move to topple the unity government.

“Therefore, it is very important that a full investigation be carried out on BN parliamentarians who signed the statutory declarations,” he said.

Umno has never officially announced the reasons for sacking or suspending its members and leaders, after the party’s Supreme Council meeting on January 27.

However, the six-year suspension imposed on former vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein, who is also Sembrong MP, is said to be related to his support for Muhyiddin as prime minister.

Hishammuddin is said to be the one who persuaded nine BN MPs to sign statutory declarations in support of Muhyiddin, Berita Harian reported.

It was reported that the Sembrong MP made the move without discussing with the party.

Former Tebrau Umno leader Maulizan Bujang was also subjected to the same action for allegedly helping Hishammuddin collect statutory declarations.

Earlier this week, Hishammuddin revealed that the letter of suspension of his membership issued by party secretary-general Ahmad Maslan did not state the reason for the action.

Of the 10 BN MPs who supported Muhyiddin as prime minister, six were from Umno and four from BN component parties, media reports quoted BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s revelation last month.

They were Hishammuddin (Sembrong), Hasni Mohammad (Simpang Renggam), Jalaluddin Alias (Jelebu), Isam Isa (Tampin), Adnan Abu Hassan (Kuala Pilah) and Abdul Rahman Mohamad (Lipis).

Four of the BN component parties are Wee Ka Siong (Ayer Hitam) and Wee Jeck Seng (Tanjung Piai) from MCA, M. Saravanan (Tapah) from MIC and Arthur Joseph Kurup (Pensiangan) from Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah. – February 5, 2023.