KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin hopes the open support shown by his deputy Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Barisan Nasional allies will put to rest any political scheming against him, at least for now.
In a statement, Muhyiddin expressed his gratitude to his No. 2 and other BN lawmakers who earlier today made known their backing for his Perikatan Nasional administration.
“I also thank them for their stand agreeing that my legitimacy as prime minister should be determined in Parliament in September through a vote of confidence, and not via other methods.
“This is in line with the decree of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong that was delivered to me during our audience at Istana Negara on Wednesday.”
He said he hopes the government will now be given space to focus its full effort on combating Covid-19, expediting the vaccination process, and reviving the economy.
“The interests of the rakyat and country must be prioritised in facing the pandemic.”
In a special press conference this morning, Ismail Sabri announced that a total of 31 BN lawmakers agree that the PN government should continue to administer until a confidence motion is tabled in the Dewan Rakyat next month.
The Umno vice-president and Bera MP said the support is expressed by 21 MPs present at the presser and 10 others who were not in attendance.
“Any statutory declarations or moves to bring down the government go against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decree.”
He added that it would be utterly irresponsible for parliamentarians, especially ministers and deputy ministers, to abandon ship, leaving the country rudderless in the midst of its triple health, economic and political crises.
His remarks come amid a brewing political calamity following Umno’s official withdrawal of support for Muhyiddin and PN on Tuesday, with party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi claiming to have enough SDs from among Umno MPs to see to the government’s collapse.
In response, Muhyiddin, in a live broadcast the following day, said he still enjoys majority support in Parliament and that he is ready to put this to the test when the House reconvenes next month.
The latest round of political squabbling was triggered by the government’s announcement on July 26 that all emergency ordinances had been revoked effective July 21, prompting the king to issue a royal rebuke over Putrajaya having done so without first securing his consent.
The ensuing chaos forced the suspension of the special Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara sittings, leaving many to question if Muhyiddin was too afraid to face a confidence vote. – The Vibes, August 6, 2021
