KUALA LUMPUR – Umno has doubled down on its insistence that Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has lost majority support in Parliament, with the party president prepared to show that more than eight MPs have pulled support for both Muhyiddin and the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.
Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told The Vibes today that the party has in its possession a significant number of statutory declarations (SD) that will prove that the Muhyiddin administration has collapsed.
The Bagan Datuk MP said he is writing another letter to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah to submit an additional number of SDs featuring more Umno MPs withdrawing support for Muhyiddin and the PN administration.
“Technically, Muhyiddin has lost the majority and I am writing another letter to His Majesty to submit an additional number of SDs.
“I cannot reveal (the number) to you, but it is definitely more than eight as stated by Muhyiddin,” Zahid said when contacted.
“I can only reveal to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, he has the privy to know,” the former deputy prime minister said.
Zahid also said there will be “consequences” for the party’s vice-president, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, over his apparent support for Muhyiddin by accompanying the latter during the live telecast of the prime minister’s special address earlier today.
Zahid said Ismail Sabri had agreed with the Supreme Council’s decision last night to pull its support from Muhyiddin and out of the PN government.
“He was at the meeting yesterday and he agreed with the Supreme Council’s decision to pull the plug from PN. He told the Supreme Council members that he will follow the party’s decision,” Zahid said, adding that the Supreme Council will be guided by the party’s constitution in taking action against Ismail Sabri.
“We will act according to the party constitution. There will be consequences of his appearance, where he is not supporting the party’s decision from the meeting yesterday.
“I’ll leave it to the disciplinary board to review his decision,” he said.
Earlier today, Muhyiddin, who is chairman of both Bersatu and PN, announced that a vote of confidence to determine his legitimacy will be held in Parliament when the House reconvenes next month.
He said this after his weekly audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana Negara.
“During the audience, I presented to the Agong that I’ve received a number of statutory declarations from MPs, convincing me that the majority of Dewan Rakyat members still support me,” Muhyiddin said.
Therefore, the issue of my resignation under Article 43(4) (of the federal constitution) is not raised.
The cabinet members who joined Muhyiddin in the live address were Ismail Sabri (Umno), International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali (Bersatu), Environment and Water Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (PAS), Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong (MCA), Education Minister Datuk Mohd Radzi Md Jidin (Bersatu), Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof (PBB), Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili (PBS) and Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan (MIC).
Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali, too, was present.
Zahid in a statement issued later today said he has sent the letter to present an additional list of SDs as an extension of the previous letter to the Agong.
“Umno challenges the government to call for an immediate special parliamentary sitting to prove that the prime minister still has the majority without waiting until Parliament sits in September.” – The Vibes, August 4, 2021
