SUNGAI BULOH: Perikatan Nasional (PN) is forced to swallow their own words after their narrative that the unity government will collapse after the Aug 12 state elections never materialised.
Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said this had resulted in an increase in support from civil servants towards the parties aligned with the unity government, which is celebrating its first year anniversary.
The Agriculture and Food Security Minister, who is also the Kota Raja member of parliament, admitted that the support from civil servants towards parties in the unity government was as low as 20 per cent after the 15th General Election in November last year.
"They (the civil servants) are not to be blamed as they were told that there would be a change in the federal government after the state election in the six states.
"I cannot blame them for having such a doubt (against the stability of the unity government) since the ones who kept repeating the same narrative is the one who claimed to have met the Prophet," said Mohamad in his speech at the launching of the Federal Territory Amanah Convention in Kepong near here today.
Although Mohamad did not identify anyone, it is understood that he was taking a veiled dig at top Pas and PN leaders.
During a Munajat Akbar and PN Best tour programme in Sendayan, Negri Sembilan which was held during the two-week long campaign for the state elections, Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang was quoted as claiming that there would be a change in the federal government if PN won all six states in the polls. (hyperlink: https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2023/08/939571/change-federal-gover...">https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2023/08/939571/change-federal-gover...).
Abdul Hadi had said that it was important for the people to throw their support by ensuring the victory of PN candidates contesting in the state elections.
Mohamad conceded that the narrative repeatedly played by PN, at the time, did affect the support of the civil servants for the Pakatan Harapan (PH) - Barisan Nasional (BN) during the state elections.
"Our Defence Minister (Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan) lost at a polling station in an area where the majority voters are members of the Armed Forces (when he defended his Rembau state seat in Negri Sembilan during the state election).
"And we (PH-BN) were severely affected in Butterworth. All that changed after the unity government remained intact under the leadership of the same Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) after the state elections concluded.
"Now they (PN) are changing the goal post (for the so-called change in the federal administration) to this month," he said.
Since then, Mohamad said the support for the unity government from people in the public sector had registered an increase.
This was reflected in the outcome of the by-election for the Pulai parliamentary constituency and Simpang Renggam state seat in Johor and Pelangai state constituency in Pahang.
"There was an increase in support of up to 50 per cent and 65 per cent during the by-elections in Johor and Pelangai respectively.
"InshaAllah (God Willing), the support from the civil servants are returning to us. Having said that, we should not condemn them (civil servants) if they continue to believe that there is a change in the federal government outside an election.
"Eventually they will believe that this unity government is here to stay for a full term. And I am sure that their confidence towards us has increased moreover after (Sarawak Premier and Gabungan Parti Sarawak chairman) Abang Jo (Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg) and leaders in Sabah have pledged their support for us," he said.