Postman more honourable than you, Zaid tells Johari

Former minister Zaid Ibrahim has accused Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul of using delaying tactics in deciding that six Bersatu turncoat MPs get to keep their seats.

Commenting on Johari’s remark that he’s “not a postman” in reply to Perikatan Nasional’s criticisms of his decision, Zaid said that a postman is “more honourable” than the speaker.

“A postman never opened the letter and read the contents. He knows his job: to deliver letters.

“You, on the other hand, do not know yours. Your job is to notify the Election Commission (EC). That’s your job, not to get maximum support for PMX (Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim),” Zaid wrote on X this morning.

When a political party determines that a vacancy exists, a speaker’s job is to inform the EC of the vacancy, he noted.

Yesterday, Johari told Parliament after PN lawmakers staged a walkout that his decision on the Bersatu six was made with great care.

“I’m not a postman. When I received what had been given to me, I made sure that I studied everything.

“I read everything about the amendment on Article 49A (of the Federal Constitution)

“I affirm my decision that seats were not made vacant, as I have informed Beluran (MP Ronald Kiandee),” he reportedly said.

Delaying to next GE?

Zaid further accused Johari of using delaying tactics by notifying the courts to interpret the relevant provisions.

“The whole process will take it to the next election. That’s how leaders who are not honourable prolong their political lives.

“The Dewan Rakyat speaker has to have certain qualities, one of which is neutrality. It’s not possible to discharge the duties properly if the speaker is biased and has the interest of his party/government as paramount,” said Zaid.

Meanwhile, Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh also lampooned Johari’s decision, saying it rendered the highly anticipated anti-hopping law meaningless.

“The anti-hopping law was all for nothing.

“Political stability is only for self-interest. Don’t be angry with the people if they hate politicians.

“Have fun destroying the country, you political frogs,” the Merlimau assemblyperson said in a Facebook post last night.

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