Dr M: Muhyiddin possible PM-candidate, open to working with Umno en bloc
Bersatu might field its president Muhyiddin Yassin as the party's candidate to be the next prime minister, revealed Dr Mahathir Mohamad this evening.
"...We discussed, including the possibility that Muhyiddin might become a (PM) candidate," he told reporters at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in Putrajaya.
Bersatu might field its president Muhyiddin Yassin as the party's candidate to be the next prime minister, revealed Dr Mahathir Mohamad this evening.
"...We discussed, including the possibility that Muhyiddin might become a (PM) candidate," he told reporters at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in Putrajaya.
The interim premier said this when asked what the two of them had discussed during a meeting at the PMO earlier.
"If everybody chooses him (as prime minister), I am okay," he added.
Mahathir, however, said the party had not discussed whether they would nominate both Muhyiddin and him for the top post.
The 94-year-old politician also appeared to be still pushing his agenda to form a unity government, which transcended party lines.
Mahathir reiterated he was not willing to work with Umno as a party but disclosed that Muhyiddin had a different stance.
"Muhyiddin is a bit more relaxed on that. He is quite prepared to accept them en bloc," he said.
This difference between them on this matter has already impacted the political situation at the state level.
In Kedah, where Mahathir's son, Mukhriz, is the menteri besar, the state government remains a coalition of Pakatan Harapan and Bersatu.
However, in Johor, where Muhyiddin has control, a state government of Bersatu, BN and PAS is en route to being formed.
Muhyiddin, a former deputy premier, was sacked from Umno and dropped from the cabinet in 2016 after rebelling against then party president Najib Abdul Razak over the 1MDB issue.
Bersatu supreme council member Redzuan Yusoff, when met outside Muhyiddin's residence in Bukit Damansara this evening, said the party would back their president as the prime minister "100 percent."
Redzuan said if Mahathir's support is included, this would mean Bersatu has "37" MPs backing Muhyiddin.
Bersatu only has 26 lawmakers. It is not clear who the remaining 11 are but this could be in reference to Gombak MP Azmin Ali's faction.
At his press conference earlier, Mahathir said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah was unable to find a "distinct majority" between the PM candidates chosen by MPs.
This is after the King interviewed lawmakers personally on Tuesday and Wednesday.
With none of the candidates commanding a clear majority, Mahathir said the king wanted the matter to be decided in the Dewan Rakyat. The special sitting is set for next Monday.
Meanwhile, Mahathir also confirmed he had decided to return as Bersatu chairperson after relinquishing the post on Monday.
He said Bersatu had appealed to him to assume the post again and he had asked for time to think about it.
"So today, I agreed to return as Bersatu chairperson," he added.
* Additional reporting by Yasmin Ramlan
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