Fahmi: Madani parties committed to full term despite snap election talk

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said coalitions within the Madani government have reaffirmed their commitment to working together until the end of the parliamentary term.

Fahmi said this followed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim briefing the cabinet on remarks he made at the recent Pakatan Harapan convention, where he raised the possibility of a snap election.

“This commitment reflects the priority given to the interests of the people and the country, thus allowing the government to focus fully on efforts to address economic challenges following the crisis in West Asia, as well as ensuring that the welfare of the people continues to be maintained,” he said at a press conference today.

On Sunday, Anwar said he would soon summon Harapan leaders to discuss the possibility of a snap general election, partly motivated by BN’s decision to go solo in the upcoming Johor state election.

The Harapan chairperson also indicated that his coalition would contest all seats in any state where BN chooses to go alone.

A day earlier, Johor BN chairperson Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the decision to contest solo was made after consultation with the Umno leadership, effectively ending speculation that BN and Harapan would cooperate in the state election.

The move drew the ire of DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, who said any dissolution of the Johor state assembly by BN would be met with a similar move in Negeri Sembilan.

Rafizi, Nik Nazmi political shift

Commenting further, Fahmi said the cabinet was formally informed of former ministers Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad vacating their parliamentary seats.

He indicated this was to allow preparations for the upcoming Dewan Rakyat sitting, although the matter itself was not discussed during the cabinet meeting.

On the same day as the Harapan convention, Rafizi and Nik Nazmi announced their intention to resign from PKR and take over Parti Bersama Malaysia.

The pair had quit the cabinet in May last year after losing their party positions in the PKR polls.

Rafizi, who is now the subject of an MACC probe into a RM1.1 billion semiconductor deal involving UK-based Arm Holdings, had previously challenged PKR to sack him after the party issued him two show-cause letters.

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