“The fact is we (the government) lost a motion and the right thing to do (now) is to go back to the people,” said Nazri Aziz (BN-Padang Rengas).

“The government lost. How can we pass laws? We have no moral ground to be in the government.”

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He said that until yesterday, he was against calls for a snap general election (GE15) because of the government’s memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Pakatan Harapan (PH).

“But today, I have no moral ground to stand here and say that we don’t need to dissolve Parliament.”

Yesterday, the Dewan Rakyat rejected the motion to extend the enforcement of sub-section 4(5) of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) for another five years.

The motion, tabled by home minister Hamzah Zainudin, was not passed in a bloc vote after 84 MPs voted in favour and 86 against. The remaining 50 MPs were absent.

Meanwhile, Selangor Barisan Nasional information chief Isham Jalil said the Sosma debacle showed the government no longer enjoyed the majority support of MPs.

He said it would be difficult for the government to enact laws and policies, and this could affect the country’s economy.

“If this situation continues, investors will continue to stay away and people will remain unemployed,” he said in a statement.

Isham said there was a need for an early general election to achieve political stability.

“Let us put aside our egos and personal interests, and return the mandate to the people,” he said.