KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional (BN) cannot verify a statement allegedly made by the coalition's members of parliament backing the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government led by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
The coalition's secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said he could not comment further on the matter.
"I cannot comment on this matter as no one has come forward to admit they were responsible in issuing such statement nor could I establish the authenticity of the letter," he said.
Zambry said his office is authorised to issue official statements approved by the BN supreme council and the coalition's top leaders.
He emphasised that the practice of unity and solidarity among BN MPs in making decisions remains.
"Therefore, any measures and actions created by certain parties for the purpose of creating doubts and divisions among BN members is very regrettable," he said in a statement.
On July 7, a statement allegedly issued by BN MPs with no letterhead nor signature declaring support for the PN government was widely circulated on social media platforms.
The statement also mentioned that the Umno supreme council had agreed in a meeting on Wednesday to allow its federal lawmakers to continue backing Muhyiddin as the prime minister.
Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim who is the PN backbenchers club chairman had also said that BN MPs who do not support Muhyiddin are free to speak up.
"Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi also stated that MPs are free to vote to support anybody in Parliament.
"However, the statement by Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan saw a new condition being imposed on Umno MPs, where it is necessary to use party decisions as a guide in carrying out their duties during parliamentary sessions.
"This does not seem to reflect the initial decision announced by the Umno president. The Umno and BN MPs hold on to the statement made by the Umno president which is to allow discretionary freedom to MPs to make decisions during the voting session," he said in s statement earlier.
#KW: BN, PN, authenticate, verify, MP, Zambry Abdul Kadir, Shahidan Kassim
