Two PKR MPs defect to ruling PN
Published on: Monday, March 01, 2021
By: Malay Mail
Our report on Feb 28, 2021.
Kuala Lumpur: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said two PKR federal lawmakers have defected to the ruling Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition.Muhyiddin announced the defections shortly after photographs of him with Julau MP Larry Sng and Tebrau MP Steven Choong emerged online.
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“Today, I received the statutory declarations from two Opposition Members of Parliament stating their support for the Perikatan Nasional government,” he said on Facebook.
He added that the SDs were delivered to him by the two defecting lawmakers after a gathering of the Cabinet to mark the one-year anniversary of the PN administration in Putrajaya.
Muhyiddin, who is the Prime Minister, expressed hope that the defection would bolster the PN government in its efforts to manage the Covid-19 pandemic and rebuild the economy.
Larry Sng (left) and Steven Choong (right) showing their SDs declaring support for Muhyiddin’s PN government.
It was not immediately clear which PN party the two defectors would join but former Barisan Nasional component Gerakan appeared to be a natural fit.
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On Saturday, Sng resigned suddenly as the Sarawak PKR Chief without making clear if he was leaving the party.
Earlier this week, Choong denied that he defected to PN, insisting that the allegations were down to his coincidental meetings with some Ministers on what he claimed to be constituent matters.
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Rumours have circulated this month that PN was making overtures to Opposition lawmakers in an attempt to regain the parliamentary majority it appeared to lose in January when three Umno MPs openly withdrew support for Muhyiddin.
Shortly after, the Muhyiddin administration advised the Yang diPertuan Agong to declare a state of Emergency across Malaysia, during which all legislatures and elections are suspended.
The rumours prompted PKR Secretary-General Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to urge his party’s lawmakers to resist defecting on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Larry Sng confirmed his resignation from PKR with immediate effect, citing the country’s political instability as one of the reasons for the decision.
In a statement, Sng said the decision was also made after consulting with his fellow constituents over the past few days.
He said there was political instability over the past year and this has damaged the country’s economy and affected the people’s wellbeing.
“I truly believe the best way forward is to put politics aside for now, so that we can help stabilise and rebuild our beloved country together.
“Prime Minister (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) is doing what’s necessary to help Malaysians in this difficult time and I believe that I, too, should play a role to support him. Too much time has already been wasted, politicking and bickering whilst the people suffer,” he said.
According to Sng, his constituency, Julau in Sarawak is the poorest in the country and people are suffering because of the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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