A total of 31 Barisan Nasional MPs will continue to support the Perikatan Nasional government until its legitimacy is tested in Parliament next month.

Deputy Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, in a press conference today, said this in line with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's recent decree for them to do so.

"Although there is a statement from the Umno president (Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) that he will submit more names (of party lawmakers pulling their support for PM Muhyiddin Yassin), this goes against the King’s decree.

"If our actions bring the government down, then we are the ones that are going against the King's decree that Parliament convenes to determine the government's legitimacy," Ismail, who is also Umno vice-president, told a press conference this afternoon, reported Astro Awani.

“If our actions bring the government down, then we are the ones that are going against the King’s decree that Parliament convenes to determine the legitimacy of the government.”

About 19 other BN MPs joined Ismail in the press conference, including MCA president Wee Ka Siong, MIC deputy president M Saravanan, as well other senior Umno lawmakers including national unity minister Halimah Sadique, former Umno elections director Rajuddin Abdul Rahman, and Padang Rengas MP Nazri Aziz.

Both Wee and Saravanan also stressed that their parties will continue to support the Perikatan Nasional-led government, as it is the common stand of the BN coalition.

The Umno president's stance to oppose the government was not discussed, nor decided by BN, Saravanan said.

In a televised address on Wednesday, Muhyiddin said he still commands the majority support from MPs to lead the country, and that he would test it when the Parliament reconvenes in September.

Therefore, questions of him resigning do not arise, the Pagoh MP had said.

Questions about Muhyiddin's legitimacy as PM arose after Zahid announced that eight Umno MPs had pulled back their support for the former.


Source: Astro Awani
Photo source: The Star