'Hadi's soft spot will foil no-confidence vote'

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DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang is sceptical a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak will succeed, because even within the opposition, PAS is unlikely to support it.

Lim, who is Gelang Patah MP, said this in reference to Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's claim that an Umno leader is seeking the support of both opposition and government MPs to topple the government.

It this claim is true, he said, the plan is likely to get 24 Umno/BN MPs to join 88 opposition MPs to secure a simple majority in the 222-member Dewan Rakyat to oust Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

However, Lim said, this was not likely to take place as not all 88 opposition MPs would support Najib's ouster.

"It is clear from recent statements by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang that the new PAS leadership under him is sympathetic and supportive of the Najib premiership, and even his 1MDB problems.

"When things come to a crunch in Parliament on a vote of no confidence, it may be a strategic error to assume that all the 21 PAS MPs would support DAP and PKR, as about half may remain loyal to Hadi's supportive stance for Najib.

"This reduces the number of opposition MPs who may support a vote of no confidence to around 77, which would require more Umno/BN MPs to come on board to secure a simple majority.

"Is this likely? I have grave doubts," he said in a statement today.

Regardless of whether this happens or not, Lim said, it does not contravene the law as it is merely a political manoeuvre and as such the police should not get involved.

Lim was referring to inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar who said police would investigate Zahid's claim.

The DAP stalwart said police should focus on combating crime rather than going on a "wild goose chase" on alleged plots to topple the government.

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