Selangor Bersatu deputy chairman Rafiq Abdullah has defended the party’s decision to sign a confidence and supply agreement with the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led state government, saying members must abide by decisions made by the party leadership.
Rafiq said the decision was made by Bersatu’s political bureau and that assemblymen were expected to follow the leadership’s directives.
Rafiq says members must follow party decisions
“As stated in Bersatu’s constitution, whether one is a regular member, an assemblyman or an MP, we are all subject to the party’s rules and decisions.
“If you disagree, you can leave Bersatu. It’s a party decision, not a personal one,” he said, according to Utusan Malaysia.
The Kuang assemblyman also argued that the agreement was nothing unusual, pointing out that Barisan Nasional (BN) had signed a similar arrangement with PH to form the unity government.
Pact draws criticism from Bersatu assemblyman
Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari revealed last week, amid rising tensions between PH and BN, that Bersatu assemblymen would sign an agreement with the state government before the state budget was tabled.
The announcement drew criticism from Bersatu’s Permatang assemblyman, Nurul Syazwani Noh, who said the party’s assemblymen had not been consulted.
Nurul, who is widely seen as not aligned with the current Bersatu leadership, said she was willing to work with the state government if it benefited the people. However, she stressed that the opposition must continue to provide checks and balances.
The agreement was announced after Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah urged political leaders to stop jostling for power during a meeting with Amirudin and his predecessors, Azmin Ali and Khir Toyo, both from Bersatu.
Bersatu says opposition role will continue
Separately, Selangor Bersatu communications director Noorazley Yahya said the party’s assemblymen would continue to serve as opposition representatives and provide checks and balances on the state government despite the agreement.
Noorazley confirmed that the matter had not been discussed with Bersatu’s 11 assemblymen. However, he said the party’s political bureau had authorised state chief Azmin to negotiate with the Selangor government.
The Bukit Melawati assemblyman said the agreement was not political in nature because it would be signed with Amirudin and the state government, rather than PH.
“It’s not that we’re joining PH,” he said, adding that Bersatu assemblymen would be involved in key district-level meetings under the agreement.
