KUALA LUMPUR – Embattled Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is facing pressure from Umno cabinet members to step down, following his public admonishment by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Many cars were seen heading to the Pagoh MP’s private residence in Bukit Damansara this afternoon after the Dewan Rakyat was prematurely adjourned by Deputy Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon about 12.30pm.
“His Umno ministers are telling him it’s time to step down. He is a liability. He has been accused of committing ‘derhaka’ (treason) and the rakyat can see this,” a source familiar with the matter told The Vibes.
“It’s actually time for Umno to distance themselves from him.”
Another source said if Muhyiddin steps down amid the country’s triple health, economic and political crises, Umno will likely end up getting the No. 1 and 2 positions, with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob taking the helm.
And despite many expecting Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to be made deputy prime minister, this might be a break with party convention as the Sembrong MP does not hold top leadership posts in Umno.
“However, this will not play well into public opinion as the entire government is seen to be in cahoots to mislead the Dewan Rakyat, and even defy the king,” said the source.
Today’s Dewan Rakyat session was interrupted after the Istana Negara statement was read out by opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Rashid later said he received a letter from Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah reporting two fresh Covid-19 cases on Parliament premises.
Another two were detected following screenings today.
Despite shouts from the opposition, Rashid adjourned the sitting to 10am next Monday.
This morning, Comptroller of the Royal Household Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin released a statement saying the Agong has asserted that the application to revoke emergency ordinances, backdated to July 21, was “hastily made without presenting it in Parliament”.
It said “the contradictory and misleading statement in Parliament failed to respect the principle of the rule of law in the Rukun Negara”.
This “disregarded His Majesty’s functions and powers as the head of state, as enshrined in the federal constitution”.
“To this, His Majesty expresses great disappointment over the statement made on July 26 that the government has revoked all emergency ordinances promulgated by His Majesty, although the revocation has not yet been given royal assent.” – The Vibes, July 29, 2021
