KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Harapan had violated the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the government and the Opposition after the motion to extend the enforcement of subsection 4(5) of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) 2012 was defeated, says Tan Sri Annuar Musa (pic).

       The Communications and Multimedia Minister said that, in his opinion, the Opposition's action - to ask for a bloc vote that saw the motion defeated 84 to 86 - had essentially nullified the MOU.

       "In my opinion, with their action, the MOU is cancelled. And this is a ‘blessing in disguise’ as the Prime Minister can now cancel or suspend the implementation of the MOU,” he said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

       He said Article 3.3 (b) of the MoU stated that Pakatan agreed to support or remain neutral in any motion submitted by the government.

       Annuar said Pakatan's action would make it easier for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, with the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, to fulfil the mandate adopted at the recent Umno general assembly regarding the dissolution of Parliament.

       He said this would pave the way for the 15th general election to be held.

       "Suspend the MOU! Jom!... We will get ready for GE15,” the post read.

       The motion to extend the enforcement of subsection 4(5) of Sosma for another five years was not approved by the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday.

       The motion, tabled by Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, was not passed in a bloc vote which saw 84 Members of Parliament (MPs) agreeing and 86 disagreeing.

       When announcing the vote outcome, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun said 50 MPs were absent during the voting.- Bernama