KUALA LUMPUR – The government’s decision to appoint Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as chairman of the National Recovery Council has not gone down well with some Umno leaders, including the group of MPs who had withdrawn support for the former prime minister during his time in power.
A party source told The Vibes that a number of lawmakers aligned to president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi were not satisfied with the selection of Muhyiddin, the very individual they forced out of Putrajaya just last month.
The majority who disapproved the appointment felt that Muhyiddin should not have been given the position considering his failure in administering the country in his 17 months in power, particularly with regard to his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
It is understood many among Umno were caught off-guard by Muhyiddin’s appointment, with the decision supposedly done without a formal discussion among party leaders.
“I understand that many among the 14 Umno MPs (who pulled support for Muhyiddin) do not agree with the appointment.
“Many among the grassroots, and even division leaders and Supreme Council members feel the same way.”
Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali had announced on Saturday that Muhyiddin will chair the National Recovery Council, saying the government is confident in his ability to lead the nation’s recovery strategies.
The move was widely criticised by the public, who questioned the Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob-led government’s decision to pick someone who failed to take the country out of troubled waters during his time in Putrajaya.
Some pundits speculated that the move is meant to appease Bersatu – of which Muhyiddin is president – and to prop up Ismail Sabri’s position as prime minister by obtaining the support of Umno’s rival party.
Muhyiddin had only lost his prime ministership after over a dozen Umno MPs withdrew their support.
The Umno source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, however, believes Muhyiddin’s appointment is unlikely to hurt his party, saying the public is mature and wise enough to see that the move was not made collectively by Umno.
As to whether the matter will be discussed in Umno’s next Supreme Council meeting, he said the party appears more concerned about having Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said replacing Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun as Dewan Rakyat speaker.
“In fact, the president (Zahid) has sent a letter to the speaker (Azhar) two days ago requesting he be replaced.”
Since Muhyiddin’s resignation, Azhar has been on the receiving end of multiple calls by MPs for him to step down, with many accusing him of not being impartial in conducting his duties overseeing the lower House. – The Vibes, September 7, 2021
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