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KUALA LUMPUR – Umno’s Padang Rengas MP Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz today formally withdrew his support for Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Perikatan Nasional.
This latest development means Muhyiddin has effectively lost the majority support of MPs in the Dewan Rakyat.
As it stands, the prime minister only has the backing of 109 MPs out of 220, after Machang MP Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub withdrew his support last Saturday.
Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah had abstained from voting for Budget 2021 last month.
Two parliamentary seats are left vacant following deaths of Warisan’s Batu Sapi MP Datuk Liew Vui Keong and Umno’s Gerik MP Datuk Hasbullah Osman last year.
Nazri said his decision to withdraw support is based on the mandate given to him as Padang Rengas' Umno chief and careful consideration on his part.
He added that his decision is also based on a motion passed by the majority of Umno divisions demanding the party withdraw from PN ahead of a general election.
“While the party has yet to formalise (the motion to withdraw support), I would like to stress here that this is already part of Umno’s official stand, as the matter has been accepted by our Supreme Council," he said in a special press conference at the Umno headquarters here today.
“And, with our annual general assembly on January 31 unlikely to take place (due to the emergency and movement control order), I decided to make my announcement today.
“As such, I officially announce today my withdrawal of support for Muhyiddin and the existing government. This decision is in the best interest of the party.”
Nazri added at least three more MPs are expected to withdraw support, but stopped short of naming them.
On who he would support as the next prime minister, he said he has not given consideration on the matter, other than that an election should be held immediately after the emergency is lifted.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong today declared a nationwide emergency in a bid to address the worsening Covid-19 situation in the country, following a request by Muhyiddin and his cabinet.
Asked which party Umno would cooperate with come election time, Nazri said Barisan Nasional remains committed to working together with PAS under the Muafakat Nasional pact.
“Whether we will work with other opposition parties, let us just face the election first. After that, we can talk and form the government,” he said. – The Vibes, January 12, 2021
