Review MoU with ‘untrustworthy’ PH now, Tok Mat tells govt

After the government’s failure to approve a motion under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) yesterday, Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan says Putrajaya must review its reforms pact with Pakatan Harapan now.

(FMT) – In a statement, Mohamad said it might be time for the government to move beyond waiting for the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with PH to end in July, hinting at calling for a snap general election.

“A government that is formed and depends on an MoU like this is very risky, all the more when PH is untrustworthy and has made it a norm to break its promises.

“The parliament sitting yesterday proved that PH would not hesitate to break its stand and promise. I believe that this is a huge slap on the face of the government,” said Mohamad, who is also known as Tok Mat.

The Rantau assemblyman also slammed the Ismail Sabri Yaakob administration for being lackadaisical and not strategic in tabling the motion on Sosma yesterday, proposed by home minister Hamzah Zainudin.

He said this proved that the cooperation and understanding between the government and PH was hard to manage, adding that it would not be excessive to say that the MoU has failed to function as hoped.

Yesterday, the motion to extend the enforcement of sub-section 4(5) of Sosma for another five years was rejected after a bloc vote saw 86 MPs voting against and 84 in favour. The other 50 MPs were absent.

Communications and multimedia minister Annuar Musa said PH’s action had essentially nullified the MoU, describing it as a “blessing in disguise” as the prime minister can now suspend the pact.

But DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook maintained that the rejection of the motion did not contravene the MoU signed last September.

The Seremban MP pointed out that Putrajaya did not discuss the extension of this Sosma provision with the opposition, which meant that PH was entitled to its stand.