Umno top two at odds over Blackrock ｜ Malaysiakini (English)

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Umno top two at odds over Blackrock

Govt moves to censure Wan Saiful

Madani govt not wooing PAS

Umno top two at odds over Blackrock

Umno's top two leaders do not appear to see eye to eye on plans to sell Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad shares to a Blackrock-linked company.

On Sunday, Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan told the media that the party's ministers had voiced disagreement in cabinet about the deal.

However, on Tuesday, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi walked back those comments and said Mohamad's views were personal.

Zahid, who is the deputy prime minister, said that Umno took the same stance as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the matter.

Anwar's stance is that the it would hurt the economy if the government rejected all Israeli-linked companies and deals.

Previously, there was speculation that Mohamad was being sidelined after a cabinet reshuffle late last year saw the Umno deputy president being moved out of the Defence Ministry to the Foreign Ministry, which some observers viewed as a "lesser" portfolio.

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Govt moves to censure Wan Saiful

The government initiated efforts to censure Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan by referring him to the Dewan Rakyat's Rights and Privileges Committee.

This is over Wan Saiful's claims in the previous Parliament session that his corruption case could be dropped if he supported Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

This led to PN staging a walkout while the government was voting on the motion - which was mere moments before the Dewan Rakyat went for a lunch break.

PN in turn, is mulling to censure speaker Johari Abdul for allowing the motion to be tabled despite Wan Saiful asking for more time to present evidence to the speaker's office.

Meanwhile, there is great anticipation over Johari's decision on whether or not the six Bersatu MPs supporting Anwar will lose their seats as per the anti-hopping law after their party memberships were voided.

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Madani govt not wooing PAS

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil set tongues wagging after he was reported as saying that there have been many "ongoing discussions" when quizzed about rumours that PAS was being invited to join the government.

PAS moved swiftly to deny such speculation.

Two days after Fahmi's remarks, Transport Minister Anthony Loke put the matter to rest by saying that Fahmi had been misunderstood.

Loke pointed out that Fahmi was merely commenting on the fact Putrajaya actively engages with PAS-led state governments and that such dealings were strictly business.

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