Prove Muhyiddin's remark on subsidies or apologise, PKR MP tells PM

Veteran PKR lawmaker Hassan Karim has urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to apologise for his allegedly defamatory remarks against Perikatan Nasional chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin over the provision of fuel subsidies to foreigners.

The Pasir Gudang MP asserted that the ball is now in the prime minister’s court after Muhyiddin denied the allegations Anwar had made in Parliament earlier.

He also advocated for individual integrity while upholding “silaturrahim” (Islamic kinship).

“If (Anwar) fails to prove the evidence that (Muhyiddin) said the thing, I believe the correct option is for the prime minister to sincerely apologise to Muhyiddin. Both are Muslim, so it is better to strengthen the ‘silaturrahim’,” Hassan told Malaysiakini when contacted.

“I strongly believe in the supremacy of a person's integrity. I am against any form of defamation with defamatory words. I don’t believe in the function of parliamentary immunity,” he added.

Hassan is understood to be referring to how MPs have parliamentary immunity for remarks made in the Dewan Rakyat.

During the Prime Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, Anwar claimed that Muhyiddin had questioned the government’s decision not to provide petrol subsidies to foreigners.

Anwar was responding to an interjection by Hulu Terengganu MP Rosol Wahid, who asked the prime minister to name the opposition leader who supported allowing foreigners to enjoy petrol subsidies.

In response, Muhyiddin, who is also Bersatu president, took to Facebook to deny the allegation, describing Anwar’s claim as a lie and slander while challenging Anwar to furnish evidence of the statement defending foreigners on the issue.

While making false accusations in Parliament is considered a disciplinary offence, a motion to begin such proceedings will first have to be allowed by the Dewan Rakyat speaker.

If the motion is allowed for debate, it will then have to be approved by a majority of MPs.

Unsurprising

Bersatu assemblyperson Hilman Idham said he was not surprised by Anwar’s accusation against Muhyiddin.

Describing Anwar as a “spin doctor”, Hilman said the former is skilled in deflecting issues.

“In this case, the prime minister must take responsibility as the accusation was made in Dewan Rakyat.

“The Hansard is there. So, he must prove it,” he told Malaysiakini.

The Gombak Setia lawmaker added that it was regrettable that a prime minister was relying on gossip to make such claims.

“The prime minister insisted that he did his homework. So, where did he read such a report?” Hilman asked.

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