PONTIAN: Umno supports the proposed fixed-term bill to allow the ruling government to administer until the end of its term, deemed necessary for the country's political stability.
Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the proposal suggested by party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is crucial to ensure that the winning party (of a general election) has the opportunity to govern the country for the entire term without interference or attempts to overthrow them.
"We do not want a situation where the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has to appoint four prime ministers in one term.
"In the past, we had a prime minister serving four kings, but now it's reversed, and is the root cause of political instability.
"We have the majority with 152 (seats), or two-thirds support in parliament, yet there are still allegations or rather rumours circulating that the opposition wants to topple the ruling government.
"This creates instability and interrupts the government's efforts to carry out developments for the people," he said, after his visit to Pontian.
Ahmad, who is also the Works Deputy Minister, attended a briefing on development projects in Pontian by the district Public Works Department.
Earlier, the New Straits Times reported that Zahid suggested for a bill to be drafted to ensure that a government must complete its five-year term, a move aimed at preventing political instability and attempts to topple the ruling government before its term ended.
Ahmad said the opposition should bring a vote of no-confidence in parliament if they want to overthrow the unity government, instead of resorting to dirty politics and hitting under the belt methods such as using statutory declarations (SD).
"I am in support of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's suggestion for the opposition to propose a vote of confidence or no-confidence in the parliament in February or March.
"They (the opposition) were challenged by Anwar, but are afraid to take it up…instead they took different approaches which were futile.
"Their claims are merely their fantasies and illusions.
"In October, they claimed that the ruling government would be toppled by the end of January, yet the unity government is still the ruling government of the day."
Ahmad, who is also Johor Umno deputy chairman, reproached Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor for talking about overthrowing the government. He wants Sanusi and his conspirators to stop playing mind games and making ridiculous claims, if they are unable to walk the talk.