Johor Revisited Sosma Rejection Destabilise Government

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In his twitter, former IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan listed 6 responsibilities of citizens on national security. The primary being to elect MPs that should pass laws to ensure public safety. Read on here

Yesterday, 50 MPs failed to attend Parliament. According to a retired DG of a government agency in our WA group, 30 was from the government side. As a result, the motion for the 5-year renewal of sub-section 4 (5) of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA law) was rejected

Backbencher leader, Dato Tajuddin Abd Rahman failed disastrously in his role. The more serious matter is detected subversive activities detrimental to national security could not be averted and will endanger public safety

Since the repeal of ISA, SOSMA was passed to fill up the role. Opposition brushed it as similar to ISA as law for "detention without trial". Musa denied in another twitter here. Unlike ISA, the 28 days detention required court order to enable investigation on matter involving public security

There is still the second and third reading today before the law is passed. Government MPs should attend and reject the law. However, similar to the Johor incident, opposition breached the MOU term agreed between government and PH to support all motion involving government matters

In Johor, opposition rejected motion to pass the state budget that could have crippled the state administration. This time Parliament could not continue the implementation of an existing law thus risking the public and country to criminals and terrorists threats. 
This highlights the fact that the current government is walking on thin ice and unstable to carry on. It is susceptible to risk of being destabilised and in this case, by mere opposition's unwillingness to cooperate. Similar to Johor, a new mandate from voters should be seeked upon. Bubar

To be continued
MOU

According to Tan Sri Annuar Musa, whose instrumental in negotiating the MOU with PH, article 3.3 (b) PH agreed to support or abstain in any motion put forward by government in Parliament i.e. no opposition. 

Their action to defeat the extension of the SOSMA law breached the MOU, thus making it null and void. Annuar went further to threaten that the Prime Minister has the liberty to carryout the mandate of the recent UMNO General Assembly to dissolve Parliament and seek the concurrence of Agong to call for a general election. 
Opposition had disrespected the wishes of Agong for an MOU to ensure stability of government. This gives no reason for Agong to not ascend to any request.  
DAP's new Secretary General, Anthony Loke denied the MOU was breached with the excuse it is within the MP's right. PKR's Communication Director, Fahmi Reza said it is not part of the matters deliberated in the MOU. Annuar responded to their responses to question the intention of opposition to refuse four late arrival government MPs from voting.  
No detention without trial 
Understandably, the opposition spent a lifetime opposing ISA. They would naturally be against any similar law irrespective of its security needs. 

They were esctatic to win the voting yesterday and would unlikely not to vote against in the subsequent readings.    

The most interesting part was the attempt by the Deputy Minister in the PM Department in charge of law, the recently labelled musibat, Mas Ermieyati to postphone the second and third reading, but was vehemently opposed by opposition. 
No GE, party election first
It was clearly fear on the part of PPBM to face a general election after repeatedly defeated at by-elections and state elections. Nevertheless, it is another clear intention by opposition to refuse the government motion.     
Annuar's response to the bill defeat was interesting. There is no hiding of his intention to reject the dissolution of Parliament. He was the proponent for UMNO election before GE15. He justified his argument based on the MOU.  

Several UMNO leaders are in the same camp with Annuar. It is believed that the white envelope mentioned by UMNO President, Dato Ahmad Zahid Hamidi contained money given out by a "certain prominent leader" through their "agents" to buy support for an early party election. 
Pro-Pejuang writer. Raggy Jessie Rithaudeen viewed Prime Minister Dato Seri Ismail Sabri managed to "tai chi" his way out of committing to dissolve Parliament. On You Tube, he said both Ismail and Zahid merely gave glimpses but no commitments to both dissolve Parliament and for Ismail remain PM. 
Till today, sources in PWTC viewed Ismail's speech indicate no willingness to dissolve Parliament unless his position as UMNO President is secured. This is replicating the same strategic mistake made by Dato Najib to delay GE14 to 2018.  
Unlike their opposition to GE15 now, both PH and PH together with other possible combinations and surprises will have the time to regroup, get their act together and pushout their narratives. If Ismail delay the party's plan for his selfish need, it slow down BN's momentum and lose the current advantage. 
Words heard Ismail seek the support of an East Malaysian state to not dissolve Parliament. Sabah suffered a bad Covid spread after its state election and Sarawak is still recovering from the fatigue of the landslide at the recent state election. 
Anti-hopping law

To support the view that Ismail insist on the party election before the general election, he was willing to meet opposition leaders to persuade them with a special parliamentary session in April to pass the anti-party hopping law. This was raised by Dato Nazri Aziz in Parliament.                    
Lim Guan Eng questioned at the DAP Congress as to why there was no anti-hopping law tabled for the March Parliament session as stated in the MOU. Failing which, government side has breached the MOU and it ends immediately. 
Ismail's move could seen as buying time, but it is clear that PKR, DAP, and Ministers cluster feared holding the general election in the immediate future. It proves Annuar's argument as mere excuse. 
Generally, delegates at UMNO GA viewed the MOU cannot supercede the constitutional power of PM to seek Agong concurrence to dissolve Parliament. It is consistent with the views of Loke and Fahmi. According to the constitution, the MOU could be deemed as ultra vires. 
Null and void!     
Updated: 2:50 PM

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