KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Najib Razak has poured scorn on Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s political posturing yesterday to bridge the divide with the opposition, saying it is an unprecedented action in Malaysia bereft of moral character.
“A most brazen and unprecedented moment in Malaysian history, political corruption on national television,” said the former prime minister in a statement today.
Goes to show that he has no moral fibre and no ethical values in him to lead the country. He’s brought shame and disrepute to the office of the prime minister.”
He slammed as “ridiculous” the assertion by Muhyiddin, who is also Bersatu president and Perikatan Nasional chairman, that the country’s Covid-19 vaccination drive will be affected if the latter were to step down.
It is ridiculous for him to claim that the national vaccination programme will stop, and we won’t attain herd immunity without him. Why would he lie to the nation like that?
“The money doesn’t come from his pocket, and neither is he the one injecting patients. The government and (vaccination) programme will continue, as it is under our civil service.
“Changing the head does not mean that the country stops functioning.”
Muhyiddin yesterday evening announced a slew of apparent reforms while enticing the opposition to agree to a bipartisan arrangement.
If this is agreed upon, he said, he will call a special Dewan Rakyat sitting in the near future for a vote of confidence on his leadership.
His offer includes introducing a two-term limit for the prime minister and a law against party-hopping, benefits and remuneration for the opposition leader equal to those of a senior minister, and a move to include opposition lawmakers in discussions on any bill, including the national Budget.
Muhyiddin said if he were to resign at this time, all cabinet members would lose their positions and the PN government would fall.
“What will happen to our country if the political crisis lingers on, and a new government is not able to be formed immediately? Which government would then ensure that the vaccination programme runs smoothly and according to schedule?”
Najib, who is a former Umno president, in response cited how the United States is operating fine after Joe Biden replaced Donald Trump as president last year.
This shows that Malaysia will fare just well without the current prime minister, he said.
“In fact, it may get better as the prime minister’s daily focus is only on how to scheme or bribe to retain power instead of fighting Covid-19 and saving the economy.
The country deserves a new leadership that does not make and continue to make fatal mistakes, which I had warned about and begged them not to do numerous times, and which eventually made our country the No. 1 most affected in the world in terms of new Covid-19 cases and deaths per capita, while our share market is the worst in Asia Pacific and second-worst in the world for 2021.
“We did not become worst in the world for no reason. Someone has to pay, as the damage in lives and livelihoods to all Malaysians arising from this mistake is simply too enormous and unforgivable.”
Viral letter from speaker to Istana
In a Facebook post earlier today, Najib said he understands that a letter that has gone viral, purportedly from Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun to Istana Negara on Muhyiddin’s support in the lower house, is authentic.
He said the letter dated August 10 is official proof that the prime minister has lost majority support.
Muhyiddin is in violation of Article 43(4) of the federal constitution, which requires him to resign if he ceases to command the confidence of the majority, unless the king dissolves Parliament, said Najib.
He said a copy of the letter has been widely shared, and Umno Youth filed a police report on the matter two days ago.
Despite this, he said, Azhar remains quiet and has yet to issue a denial.
“In the event that this letter is genuine (and I am made to understand it is 100% original), any decision made by the government today can be challenged in court, because PM8 (Muhyiddin) has lost legitimacy and power as per the constitution.” – The Vibes, August 14, 2021
