KUALA LUMPUR: Gerik Member of Parliament Fathul Huzir Ayob claims that he was approached by certain parties last year with offers to declare his support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last year.
In a special edition interview programme titled 'YB Apa Cerrr' aired on Pas TV's Facebook yesterday, the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) Supreme Council member said that he woud rather resign from his post than accept the offer.
"In October, November... I was really down. I didn't even have money. At that time, I received an offer (to declare support for the Prime Minister). 'They' called to meet up.
"But I met the opposition leader (Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin). I expressed my willingness to resign and let the people choose another representative. The opposition leader gave words of encouragement, telling me to be patient," he said.
Fathul, who is also a Bersatu Supreme Council member, said that his first term as a Member of Parliament was quite challenging, especially as an opposition member without allocations.
"I didn't know what I should or shouldn't do. Because the duty of a member of Parliament is to enact laws, to ensure that the country can progress. Even as an opposition member, our duty is to check and balance.
"But the political atmosphere in Malaysia is somewhat different, 50 percent can be about legislating, the other 50 percent is about serving the community. Don't judge my performance in this state of scarcity. Judge me when I become part of the government," he said.
Meanwhile, Taman Medan assemblyman and Bersatu Supreme Council member, Dr Afif Bahardin, claimed that the party-hopping law is now being used as a tool by the government to remain in power.
He said that if Anwar is firm in his commitment to uphold the anti-party-hopping law as he advocated when he was in the opposition, he would not condone any opposition lawmakers to switch their support to him, or if such actions are taken, those seats should be vacated.
"Anwar was at the forefront in championing the anti-party-hopping act when he was in the opposition before, so he should not accept anyone who hops. Morally, it's true that technically he has not been expelled, etc.
"But morally, what do you actually want with this anti-party-hopping act?
He, as the Prime Minister, shouldn't accept this (Members of Parliament who want to switch support)," he said.
He added that the government should direct the Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, to instruct any opposition members of Parliament who wish to declare their support for the Prime Minister to vacate their seats.