MELAKA – Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin lambasted Umno veteran Tan Sri Shahrir Samad for daring Bersatu to withdraw support for the Umno-led Johor government, describing the former Johor Baru MP as “bodoh” (stupid).
The Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman said Shahrir was being unreasonable with his remark, but said he would not resort to any rash decisions that could be at the expense of the Johor people.
“Don’t dare me. I am the president of Bersatu. I’m only thinking of the people’s fate. Shahrir doesn’t think about that.
“He is challenging me. If I want, I can press the button now, and everything will collapse. You want to see that happen?
“I’m not afraid, but I’ll do what’s best for the people of Johor,” he said in a press conference today.
Earlier today, Shahrir had supposedly dared Muhyiddin to withdraw his party from the Johor administration.
This is after the Pagoh MP said if he wanted, he could order Bersatu assemblymen in Johor to pull the plug on the government in a similar fashion as Umno did to him at the federal level.
“You want to withdraw support so Johor will also have an election? By all means. Johor Umno is ready. We respect the people’s mandate,” Shahrir posted on Facebook this evening.
In the presser today, Muhyiddin maintained that he is not a vindictive person, and said he will not repeat what happened in Melaka where the withdrawal of several assemblymen triggered the state election.
“If I were to do the same in Johor like what Shahrir ‘bodoh’ is saying, asking Bersatu to withdraw support so the government will fall, is that smart or stupid?
“I’ve known him for so long but you have to be reasonable. When times are so difficult, you have to think about the lives of the people, the interest of the rakyat, not about your party or its owners.
“Sorry to say, but Shahrir has lost his bearings. He doesn’t make sense anymore. He’s more concerned about power. After he lost the 14th general election, he got angry,” he said.
Muhyiddin said if Umno wants to challenge him, the party should do it during the next general election, and allow the rakyat to pick their choice of government.
“I’m from Johor, I will not do anything in Johor like the Umno people did in Melaka,” he added. – The Vibes, November 12, 2021