KOTA KINABALU – Caretaker prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has only himself to blame for calling an early Parliament dissolution, said Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Responding to Ismail Sabri’s complaints on the letter to Istana Negara that was signed by 12 Perikatan Nasional (PN) cabinet ministers opposing snap polls, Muhyiddin said the coalition’s members were merely voicing the views of the people.
He said they have the right to voice their concerns to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as they were not consulted on the dissolution of Parliament to pave way for snap polls.
“I think it is very much irresponsible for him (Ismail Sabri) to put the blame on me and members of the cabinet for what has happened now,”
“This is because they (BN and Umno) are facing heavy attacks and anger from the Malaysian public.
“Why is this election held now in the midst of floods and whatnot? I think they (Ismail Sabri’s party) cannot blame anyone else because it is they themselves who are responsible for that,” he told reporters here after chairing a meeting with Sabah Bersatu’s top leadership members here this evening.
Earlier today, Ismail Sabri pinned the blame on PN for triggering the dissolution of Parliament, saying the coalition’s actions against the ruling government had caused political turmoil.
Muyhiddin said matters regarding the letters to Agong have now become irrelevant as the Agong has consented to dissolve the Parliament.
The Pagoh MP also said the Agong has consented to the dissolution based on his evaluation of the situation and to adhere to the federal constitution.
He said PN respects the decision of the king, despite its view that it was not practical to hold an election during the monsoon season.
“It is not that the king has been pressured by anyone. The only thing we did was to ask (him) not to hold an election due to the monsoon season,” he said.
Muhyiddin said he and Ismail had also a “private agreement” before he was named as successor for the prime ministerial post.
He said one of the items agreed upon was that leaders of PN would be consulted before dissolving parliament.
“We asked for this because we are the biggest component in the federal government,” Muhyiddin said.
“But now when he realised that he is being attacked for this, he went on saying it is Muhyiddin’s fault, or blaming the PN ministers”. – The Vibes, October 11, 2022
