PETALING JAYA: Some 55 Amanah grassroots leaders have condemned MPs from the party who did not support the push for a bloc vote on the federal budget in the Dewan Rakyat.
In a joint statement, the grassroots leaders, who hold positions in national and state committees, said the unilateral decision of some MPs showed a lack of respect for decisions based on consensus and majority support.
“This has tarnished Pakatan Harapan’s reputation as a government elected by the people in the 14th general election.
“All Amanah and Pakatan Harapan leaders must hold firm to principles, organisational discipline and decisions made at meetings.”
Earlier this week, after the second reading of the budget, Amanah’s Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar requested a bloc vote but the move was unsuccessful with only 12 other MPs standing up to support him, when the minimum requirement was 15 MPs.
Malaysiakini previously reported that the 12 other MPs who supported the bloc vote included Pejuang’s four MPs, namely Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Mukhriz Mahathir, Amiruddin Hamzah and Shahruddin Md Salleh, and Amanah’s Khalid Samad, Hatta Ramli, Hanipa Maidin, Dzulkefly Ahmad and Hasanuddin Yunus, PKR’s Hassan Karim, PSB’s Baru Bian and DAP’s Mordi Bimol.
In their statement today, the Amanah grassroots leaders praised the party’s deputy president Salahuddin Ayub who had apologised for not supporting the bloc vote request.
“This is the type of leadership that needs to be the core of Pakatan Harapan and we stand in solidarity with his decision to put his post on the line on the principle of responsibility and integrity.”
The grassroots leaders called on all members to support the aspirations of Amanah president Mohamad Sabu to strengthen cooperation and avoid squabbles with their allies.
They also demanded “a clear and firm direction” on the return of the people’s mandate through the rejection of kleptocrats and a denial of the validity of the Perikatan Nasional-led government.