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At a press conference joined by 18 other MPs, the Umno vice-president said this is in line with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s wishes as His Majesty had consented to a confidence vote in September.
Ismail claimed that in total, 31 BN MPs were supporting the government, though not all could be present at the press conference.
Those who were present included MCA president Wee Ka Siong, MIC deputy president M Saravanan, national unity minister Halimah Sadique, former Umno elections director Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, Padang Rengas MP Nazri Aziz and Arau MP Shahidan Kassim.
Ismail said Istana Negara was no longer receiving statutory declarations on the prime minister’s majority.
“Although there is a statement from the Umno president that he will submit more names, this goes against the King’s decree,” he said.
“If our actions bring the government down, then we are the ones that are going against the King’s decree that Parliament convenes to determine the legitimacy of the government.”
He said as MPs who are loyal to their parties, their objective is to serve the people, and that bringing the government down would be irresponsible.
“So we will continue to support the government based on the King’s decree to remain with the government until its legitimacy is tested in Parliament.”
On letters issued by Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan on their continued support for the government, Ismail said the 48 hours given to them to respond was against the party’s laws.
“We will look at it and decide whether we want to reply to the letter or not. At the same time, since the president’s orders involve MPs, we urge the president to meet with each individual MP,” he said.
Ismail said it was wrong for Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to issue instructions without meeting the MPs or getting an explanation from them.
“We are still loyal to the party, but do not let the party’s actions backfire on the party and burden the people,” he said.
He said Umno’s decision was made at the party level but not BN’s, which should have been the case. “In Parliament, we are BN MPs.”
The 12 MPs who were not present but are backing the government are Khairy Jamaluddin (Rembau), Hishammuddin Hussein (Sembrong), Dr Adham Baba (Tenggara), Reezal Merican Naina Merican (Kepala Batas), Mohamad Alamin (Kimanis), Zahidi Zainul Abidin (Padang Besar), Nizar Zakaria (Parit), Arthur Joseph Kurup (Pensiangan), Wee Jeck Seng (Tanjung Piai), Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim (Baling), Noh Omar (Tanjung Karang) and Tengku Adnan Mansor (Putrajaya).
Asked if Wanita Umno chief Noraini Ahmad and Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin are among the MPs backing the government, Ismail said they had been uncontactable for some time.
He said they would continue to try contacting them.
Asked if they were ready to face disciplinary action from the Umno leadership over their stand, he said they were not sure what action the party planned to take.
Meanwhile, Ka Siong and Saravanan said their parties will continue to support the PN-led government.
Saravanan questioned BN’s direction, saying the coalition cannot act as it pleases as it has to answer to its members.
“We have no problem following Umno’s stand but a decision must be made at the BN level,” he said.
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