KUALA LUMPUR – Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today confirmed that he went to meet with Pejuang chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, saying that it was part of his efforts to build cooperation with non-Barisan Nasional (BN) parties ahead of the looming national polls.
Yesterday, Dr Mahathir said that Muhyiddin had come to him for a meeting, during which the latter had asked for help to regain the prime ministership.
Muhyiddin assumed the position in March 2020, in the aftermath of the infamous Sheraton Move that led to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government. He resigned last year, paving the way for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob of BN linchpin Umno.
Muhyiddin said he arranged to meet with Dr Mahathir after an earlier meeting with a senior leader from the nonagenarian’s Pejuang party.
“After the Johor election, I was approached by several political party leaders including from Pejuang,” Muhyiddin said in a statement posted on his Facebook page.
“They voiced their opinions to me, that it would be better for parties outside of Barisan Nasional to consider some form of political cooperation to avoid multi-cornered contests in the 15th general election.”
Muhyiddin said he took it upon himself to meet with political party leaders both in government and the opposition to discuss the possibility of political cooperation but stressed that it is still in the early stages and that no final decision has been made.
Yesterday, Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayshal Wan Ahmad Kamal told The Star that it was Dr Mahathir who wanted to meet his party boss, and not the other way around.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said there had been meetings between the PH opposition bloc and the Bersatu-led Perikatan Nasional coalition, but there was no discussion on support for Muhyiddin to be made prime minister again. – The Vibes, April 2, 2022
