KUALA LUMPUR: Among the 148 Members of Parliament from unity government parties, at least two Umno reps were absent from yesterday’s Unity Government National Convention.

Umno’s MP for Bera, former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, and MP for Sembrong Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, are seen as being sidelined by their party.

In response to a query from Sin Chew Daily, Ismail said he was absent from yesterday’s convention as he was in Jakarta.

He earlier slammed the unity government as “forced marriage,” saying cracks had started to appear among the parties and that the unity government would not last long.

Meanwhile, Hishammuddin’s assistant also confirmed with Sin Chew Daily that the MP was overseas and was unable to attend the convention.