KUALA LUMPUR – Any decision to withdraw support for Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will be done individually, and does not represent the party, said Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid following the decision of two of its MPs.
Mahdzir, who is also Padang Terap MP, said this is because such decisions are within the rights of each individual lawmaker.
“Any declaration of support for the government is done by each member of Parliament,” he told reporters at the Umno headquarters here today.
Mahdzir had earlier attended the party’s political bureau meeting chaired by president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to discuss the emergency declaration announced by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong today.
“At the moment, Umno still supports Perikatan Nasional (PN) as our ministers are still in the cabinet,” Mahdzir said.
He was commenting on Padang Rengas MP Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz’s decision to withdraw his support for Muhyiddin earlier today.
Nazri is the second Umno lawmaker to do so, following a similar decision by Machang MP Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub on Saturday.
Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah had also announced previously that he would not support Muhyiddin in the Dewan Rakyat.
This effectively leaves Muhyiddin with the backing of just 109 out of 220 MPs, meaning he has lost the support of the majority of Parliament.
Two parliamentary seats are left vacant following the deaths of Warisan’s Batu Sapi MP Datuk Liew Vui Keong and Umno’s Gerik MP Datuk Hasbullah Osman last year.
Previously, a large majority of Umno divisions had resolved that the party should sever its ties with Bersatu ahead of the next general election.
Umno's Supreme Council later said that the matter would be deliberated and a decision made during its annual general assembly on January 31.
With today’s emergency proclamation, Umno’s general assembly will be postponed. – The Vibes, January 12, 2021
