[UPDATED] Umno reveals letters showing 14 MPs retracting support from Muhyiddin

KUALA LUMPUR – Umno has made public two letters that outlined the stand of over a dozen of its MPs in rejecting Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and his Perikatan Nasional government.

A total of 14 Umno MPs are no longer supporting Muhyiddin, according to a letter presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong dated Wednesday.

The letter, along with accompanying statutory declarations (SDs) from the MPs, were uploaded on the Umno Online Facebook page today, laying further evidence that Muhyiddin has lost his majority support in the Dewan Rakyat.

The document was signed by Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid, and is a follow-up to another letter sent to Istana Negara on July 30, informing the Agong that a number of lawmakers have pulled the plug on the prime minister.

Apart from the Bagan Datuk MP, the letter also bore the names of Datuk Seri Najib Razak (Pekan), secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan (Pontian), Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (Lenggong), Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim (Baling) and Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (Pengerang). 

Others are Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (Kinabatangan), Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub (Machang), Datuk Mohd Nizar Zakaria (Parit), Datuk Ahmad Nazlan Idris (Jerantut), Ramli Mohd Nor (Cameron Highlands), Datuk Mohamad Alamin (Kimanis), Tan Sri Noh Omar (Tg Karang) and Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (Gua Musang).

Only Tengku Razaleigh’s SD was not presented to the king, as Zahid said the veteran politician had never signed any documents supporting Muhyiddin previously. 

The other three MPs who pulled out are Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (Lenggong) – who resigned as energy and natural resources minister last week – as well as Bung Moktar and Mohamad Alamin.

In the SDs, the MPs said the decision to withdraw support takes effect immediately, consistent with the Umno Supreme Council’s decision last Tuesday. 

The same message was also conveyed in Zahid’s letter to the king.

“I would like to confirm that not a single MP (of the 14) has withdrawn their SD as presented to you. As such, I certify that 14 MPs have fully ratified.” 

However, Azalina, Noh and Mohamad Alamin, in their respective SDs, said they will still continue supporting the government, but not the prime minister.

This latest development effectively means Muhyiddin has lost majority support of Parliament – unless he is able to woo over other opposition lawmakers to his side. 

In announcing Umno’s withdrawal last Tuesday, Zahid had said that the prime minister has now lost his legitimacy and ought to step down for a new leader.

He later told The Vibes that there are definitely more than eight MPs from Umno who have pulled the plug on Muhyiddin. 

“Technically, Muhyiddin has lost the majority and I am writing another letter to His Majesty to submit an additional number of SDs,” he said just hours before the document was handed to the king. – The Vibes, August 9, 2021