Jumping MPs: Dr M has gone back on his word, says DAP’s Liu

(The Star) – Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has gone back on his own word, says Selangor DAP secretary and Sungai Pelek assemblyman Ronnie Liu.

“A while back, I wrote about how prior to the 14th General Election, Dr Mahathir told a group of activists and NGOs that he would not accept Umno frogs. I know because I was there.

“I heard it with my own ears… and I believed him.

“When Umno MPs started jumping ship, there were concerns they would be accepted into Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).

“Some of their leaders tried to allay the fears of their Pakatan Harapan colleagues by saying that these people would need to become independents first and that they would be thoroughly vetted,” Liu said.

On Tuedsay (Feb 12), Dr Mahathir handed over Bersatu membership cards to seven MPs who had defected from Umno.

The seven are Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (Larut), Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (Tanah Merah), Datuk Dr Latiff Ahmad (Mersing), Datuk Rosol Wahid (Hulu Terengganu), Datuk Mohd Fasiah Mohd Fakeh (Sabak Bernam), Datuk Shahbudin Yahya (Tasik Gelugor) and Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (Masjid Tanah).

Liu said Bersatu was slowly being infiltrated by former Umno members.

“Have all of them been vetted properly? We do know that Tasek Gelugor MP Shabudin Yahaya is not the kind of person we want in Bersatu.

“It is really disheartening what Dr Mahathir is doing, accepting rubbish like this.

“What happens if more Umno frogs abandon ship and ask to join Bersatu? Will they take them in like this? This is not what the rakyat voted for in GE14,” Liu said in a press statement.

PKR vice-president Chang Lih Kang also blasted Bersatu for accepting the seven MPs.

“The rakyat made up their minds to oust BN in the 14th General Election. We should not go against their will to reinstate MPs from the former regime into the new governing coalition. It is a betrayal of the rakyat’s decision,” said Chang Tuesday (Feb 12).