‘Penang PH gov’t may fall if Anwar not named PM candidate’
If Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is not named Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) prime ministerial candidate, PKR assemblyman may withdraw their support for the Penang PH government, leading to its collapse.
But according to Teluk Bahang assemblyman Zolkifly Md Lazim, PH ally DAP does not support Anwar as prime minister, instead backing Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for the post.
The Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) elected representative said that if Anwar is not named the candidate for the top post, dissatisfied PKR assemblymen may withdraw their backing for the state government.
“DAP wants Dr Mahathir as prime minister, not Anwar. So, why should PKR continue to remain with PH?
“Looking at this scenario, there is also the possibility of Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) assemblymen withdrawing their support, as there is no certainty that they support DAP.
“If this happens, it is not impossible for the Penang PH government to collapse,” he said when contacted today.
In the last general election, PH retained Penang with 37 seats out of the total 40 contested.
DAP won 19 seats, PKR won 14, while Bersatu and Amanah each won two seats.
However, PKR on Sunday announced the sacking of two of its elected representatives –
Seberang Jaya’s Dr Afif Bahardin and Sungai Acheh’s Zulkifli Ibrahim.
This followed their meeting with Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin last week.
With the latest development, PKR is now left with 12 seats.
Meanwhile, Zolkifly and his party-mate, Khaliq Mehtab Mohd Ishaq (Bertam), also withdrew their support for the state PH government and backed Muhyiddin.
The four will be sitting with the opposition block when the state legislative assembly resumes sitting at the end of this year.
Meanwhile, acting state PKR chairman Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik said claims that all PKR assemblymen would withdraw their support for the state government are untrue.
“Such an issue has never arisen. We stand firmly behind the Penang PH government.
“We will respect any decision made by the party leadership,” he added.
NST
