Former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin today pondered aloud about how long the public would have to wait for the result of probes on 1MDB.

Speaking at the Pontian Umno division annual general meeting today, Muhyiddin said the public has been patiently waiting because Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had repeatedly called for patience.

"The prime minister said wait, wait for the investigations (to be completed).

"Wait and wait, how long must we wait, sampai bulan jatuh ke riba (until the moon falls on our lap)?" said Muhyiddin.

Muhyiddin said that there must be a reasonable time limit.

"If the reasonable time limit expires, you will lose the people's confidence. They will say 'you can say anything, but we do not believe you," he said.

Muhyiddin, earlier in his speech, said he had met many people who told him that they will not support BN in the next general election.

"I don't like that," he disclosed.

The Umno deputy president also expressed hope that the attorney-general would not be replaced again.

"Don't replace the AG tomorrow. The AG's job is to investigate; if there is a case, then okay. If there is not, then the case is closed.”

Former attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail ( photo ) was recently replaced by Mohamed Apandi Ali in a shocking move as the latter was only supposed to retire in October.

Gani had been one of the main parties who had spearheaded the special task force into the 1MDB investigations.

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin also lamented how although BN had won the election and should thus be a strong entity, the reality today was otherwise.

"Today's situation should go be good, but the feedback I have received is that there are all kinds of problems.

"The rakyat face problems such as the rising cost of living, and matters related to the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

"The situation is not getting better. Raise your hand if you think things are getting better?" he asked, to which no one from the audience responded.

"It's more pressing when the 1MDB problem cropped up," he added.

He then asked the crowd to imagine if Johor is wrested away by the opposition in the next general election.

"Can you imagine if Johor loses like Selangor? Maybe there aren't issues at the grassroots level but because of pressing national issues, we might lose Johor," he warned.