It’s just speculation, Zuraida says on talk of plans to stop Anwar as PM

(FMT) – PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin today rubbished talk that the purported move of 40 Umno MPs to PPBM is to stop her party’s president-elect Anwar Ibrahim from becoming the eighth prime minister.

“I have read news about it, but I do not know how true it is. Stopping Anwar from becoming prime minister? This is speculation by extreme individuals,” the housing and local government minister told reporters at the Parliament lobby here.

On Saturday, PPBM Supreme Council member A Kadir Jasin said about 40 MPs might leave Umno soon for PPBM, following in the footsteps of Jeli MP Mustapa Mohamed who joined the Pakatan Harapan (PH) component party the day before.

He claimed the MPs had met top PPBM leaders including party chairman Mahathir and president Muhyiddin Yassin.

“They indicated that they are open about quitting Umno and joining PPBM, but the problem is they have to figure out what will happen next as some of them have issues or are exposed for investigations,” he said.

Muhyiddin confirmed that several Umno MPs had met with him but refused to say how many.

According to PH consensus, Mahathir will step down after two years in power to make way for Anwar.

When asked if the alleged move from Umno to PH would jeopardise the coalition, Zuraida said the matter would be discussed later this week.

“Whatever the decision, we will discuss with all component parties this Friday about whether the participation of the 40 MPs will be healthy for PH or not,” the Ampang MP said.

PPBM now has 14 seats in the Dewan Rakyat, including Mustapa’s. Umno meanwhile is down to 49 from the 54 it had after May 9.

Apart from Mustapa, Masjid Tanah MP Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, Bukit Gantang MP Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal, Bagan Serai MP Noor Azmi Ghazali and Kimanis MP Anifah Aman also quit Umno after the 14th general election.