[UPDATED] Wan Saiful confident Perikatan wants Muhyiddin to remain chairman

KUALA LUMPUR – Bersatu supreme council member Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan is convinced that fellow Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders want Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to remain party president and coalition chairman.

Speaking to reporters at the Bersatu Youth annual assembly here today, Wan Saiful expressed his confidence in PN supporting Muhyiddin to retain his posts.

“By being Bersatu president, he (Muhyiddin) was appointed PN chairman. I am sure that everyone in PN wants him to stay (as coalition chairman).”

Wan Saiful added that the circumstances surrounding his resignation as Bersatu information chief are different from Muhyiddin’s current predicament. 

“(Muhyiddin) is different from me (as) I was appointed (party information chief), while he was elected (president) by party members.

“I had a responsibility to let go of my (party) duties,” said the Tasek Gelugor MP on his move after being charged with corruption.

Last month, Wan Saiful was charged with soliciting and receiving bribes worth RM6.9 million to help a private firm to secure a RM232 million government contract under the Jana Wibawa initiative introduced during Muhyiddin’s tenure as prime minister. 

He subsequently announced his decision to relinquish his position as Bersatu information chief, adding that he wishes to be “different from the court cluster”.

Wan Saiful was referring to Barisan Nasional linchpin Umno politicians who hold positions while facing corruption charges. 

Muhyiddin yesterday pleaded not guilty to four charges of power abuse amounting to RM232.5 million and two charges of money laundering involving RM195 million linked to his alleged role in Jana Wibawa and other matters.

He told a press conference yesterday that he had left it to the Bersatu supreme council to determine the fate of his presidency. – The Vibes, March 11, 2023