Will East Malaysian BN MPs revolt over hudud bill support?

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East Malaysian BN MPs Likely to Revolt Over Hudud Bill Support

Barisan Nasional (BN) Members of Parliament from Sabah and Sarawak are likely to openly defy the coalition if it declares support for a parliamentary bill allowing the enforcement of hudud. This potential revolt stems from the significant role East Malaysian parties play in BN's electoral success and their distinct political positions compared to West Malaysian components. The coalition's reliance on these 49 seats, secured in the 2013 general election, underscores the potential impact of any internal dissent.
East Malaysian MPs' Stance on Hudud Bill

The Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), led by Tan Sri James Masing, has already indicated that all six of its MPs will not vote in favour of Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang's private member's bill. Lim Kit Siang, DAP parliamentary leader, believes that an overwhelming majority of BN MPs from Sarawak and Sabah would similarly break ranks with Umno/BN if Prime Minister Najib announces support for the bill. This suggests a deep-seated opposition among East Malaysian representatives to the proposed legislation.
Crucial Role of East Malaysian Votes for BN

The 49 federal seats secured by BN from East Malaysia in the 13th general election were instrumental in the coalition's victory. In that election, BN won a total of 133 federal seats, just 21 more than the 112 required for a parliamentary majority. The strategic importance of these East Malaysian component parties is highlighted by their indispensability to BN, in contrast to parties like MCA and Gerakan, which are considered dispensable following the 2013 polls.
Contrast with West Malaysian Component Parties

Lim Kit Siang has criticised MCA and Gerakan for lacking the conviction shown by PRS in publicly declaring their stance on the hudud bill. While MCA and Gerakan are expected to acquiesce to any position taken by Prime Minister Najib on Hadi's bill, the MPs from Sarawak and Sabah present a different challenge. Their potential revolt signifies a significant internal pressure point for the BN coalition, given their electoral weight and the perceived dispensability of some West Malaysian components.
Background of the Hudud Bill

The proposed bill by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang aims to remove legal obstacles to the enforcement of hudud in Kelantan, following amendments to the state's Shariah Criminal Code II 1993 on March 19. For the bill to pass, PAS, with its 21 MPs, would require the support of all Umno MPs and additional votes from other non-Muslim parties to achieve the necessary simple majority of 112 votes.

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Will East Malaysian BN MPs revolt over hudud bill support?

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