KUALA LUMPUR – All government documents that are signed by, or contain any mention of Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, are now required to use his official name, Mahiaddin Md Yasin.
This is stated in an internal memo dated June 3 by the Prime Minister’s Office and issued to civil servants.
The directive, which is effective immediately, was confirmed by Muhyiddin’s chief private secretary Datuk Marzuki Mohamad, who issued the memo, to Malaysiakini.
“All written correspondence and official government documents that require the prime minister’s name or signature are to use the prime minister’s official name,” said the memo.
According to the memo, which has made the rounds on social media, the decision to use Muhyiddin’s legal name follows advice from the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
This follows a Shah Alam High Court ruling in April quashing a preventive detention order issued by Muhyiddin after he signed off on it as “Muhyiddin” and not “Mahiaddin”, the spelling printed on his MyKad, when he was acting home minister.
The Vibes reported that the court approved a habeas corpus application by a Sabahan, who was arrested last year for allegedly distributing drugs, that cited, among other things, the name used to sign off on the detention order.
The decision poses a serious question on the legality of other formal documents signed by Muhyiddin, who has held various government positions throughout his political career, using his “glamourous” name, and whether they can now be challenged in court.
Other than the positions of prime minister (March 2020 to present) and home minister (2018-2020), Muhyiddin also held key posts including deputy prime minister (2009-2015), international trade and industry minister (2008-2009) and Johor menteri besar (1986-1995).
It is uncertain how many detention orders and official documents he has signed off on as “Muhyiddin”. – The Vibes, June 16, 2021
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