'Wait and see': Bersatu leader sets tongues wagging with '126' post

A Bersatu leader’s cryptic Facebook post has set tongues wagging but Muhammad Faiz Na'aman is keeping his cards close to his chest.

“It has reached 126, If true, alhamdulillah,” Muhammad Faiz Na'aman wrote.

The post fuelled speculation that he was referring to the opposition coalition’s support in Dewan Rakyat.

In a separate post, Faiz revealed that a journalist had quizzed him on the matter.

"A journalist asked me about the 126 number. I replied, ‘Sorry, no comment. Just wait and see’. Furthermore, I never mentioned what the number refers to.

“However, (Prime Minister) Anwar Ibrahim himself had mentioned ‘I have the numbers’ on numerous occasions,” he added.

In a separate posting, Faiz published a screenshot of his communication with a reporter, who asked if the number indicated that PN has the number to form the federal government.

“I apologise… I cannot comment on this yet, just wait and see.

“The reporter asked, but I did not answer. Just understand (Faham-faham saja lah),” he added.

Meanwhile, BN has denied that its MPs are involved in efforts to topple the government as alleged by certain parties, its deputy chairperson Mohamad Hasan said.

Responding to Faiz, he said BN would not bring down the existing government as it promised to form a stable government needed to manage the country.

"To bring down the current government would be difficult. The anti-party hopping law is in effect and any MP who wants to support another party has to resign for a by-election to be held.

"Besides, the current government has a pretty big majority of 148.”

Coalition government

After making repeated claims of having the numbers since the 2008 general election, Pakatan Harapan chairperson Anwar Ibrahim managed to secure sufficient support after the last national polls to form a coalition government.

Following a brief political deadlock, the coalition government was formed with 82 seats from Harapan, BN (30), GPS (23), GRS (six), Warisan (three), KDM (two), plus Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) and the independent MP, Vernon Bahanda.

Although switching camps had become a common feature in Malaysian politics, the anti-hopping law passed last year would require an MP who defects to vacate his or her post.

Political parties can still shift their allegiance en bloc, but Harapan and BN have enough seats on their own to maintain majority control over Parliament even if GPS, GRS, GRS, Warisan, KDM, PBM, and the independent MP decide to back PN.

Such a scenario would leave BN and Harapan with 112 MPs – just enough for a simple majority.

Last month, Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu dismissed claims of PN orchestrating a plot to topple the government through forced by-elections.

Meanwhile, MCA president Wee Ka Siong, who was also implicated, dismissed the allegation as nonsense.

The upcoming litmus test for Anwar’s coalition government is the six state elections in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan.

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