Pakatan should not burn bridges with Muda, says Pasir Gudang MP

JOHOR BARU: Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim stated that Pakatan Harapan should maintain a good relationship with Muda in order to effectively carry out reforms in Malaysia. According to the PKR lawmaker, a two-thirds majority in Parliament is required to reform essential institutions in the country, as this is necessary for making amendments to the Federal Constitution. However, the current government only holds 147 MPs, while obtaining the necessary approval would require the support of at least 148 MPs. Hassan emphasized the importance of Muda, despite the party having only one seat.

Although Muda has joined the opposition bloc in Parliament, it has not joined the largest party, Perikatan Nasional, which has 74 MPs. Hassan pointed out that Perikatan MPs left the Dewan Rakyat en masse when Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim concluded his speech in the 12th Malaysia Plan half term review motion debate on Tuesday. Syed Saddiq, on the other hand, remained in the Dewan Rakyat as the only Opposition MP and participated in the debate until the motion was passed. According to Hassan, the government is currently working towards two crucial reforms concerning national institutions: the Bill on the separation of powers of the Attorney General and the Public Prosecutor, and the revival of the Parliament Services Act. Both of these reforms necessitate amendments to the Federal Constitution.

Hassan further mentioned that Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has expressed his support for the government’s efforts to carry out reforms involving amendments to the Federal Constitution. In light of this, he urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to take note of Muda’s positive stance, as the party intends to play a constructive role as an Opposition. Hassan also reminded everyone of Syed Saddiq’s previous role as the youth and sports minister, where he led the efforts to amend the Constitution in Parliament from 2018 to 2019, particularly with regards to the Undi18 Bill and Automatic Voter Registration. He highlighted that Muda is not an opposition party that opposes out of sheer opposition but aims to be constructive. For this reason, Hassan emphasized the importance of Pakatan not burning its bridges with Muda.