Muhyiddin informs Bersatu MPs of decision to resign
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin will tender his resignation to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong tomorrow.
Muhyiddin conveyed his decision when he met Bersatu MPs at the Perikatan Nasional (PN) headquarters this morning, according to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Special Functions) Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof...
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin will tender his resignation to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong tomorrow.
Muhyiddin conveyed his decision when he met Bersatu MPs at the Perikatan Nasional (PN) headquarters this morning, according to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Special Functions) Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof.
"We just finished the meeting. Tomorrow, there will be a special cabinet meeting. After that, he will head to Istana Negara to submit his resignation," Redzuan told Malaysiakini.
He said Muhyiddin informed the MPs he had exhausted all avenues to sustain his administration and resigning was the last resort.
What comes next? Read: Numbers game intensifies amid talk of Muhyiddin's resignation
Redzuan was referring to Muhyiddin's bid to gain the support of opposition MPs in the upcoming confidence vote by promising a slew of reforms. He said that was the last option available to Muhyiddin.
"With that, we have to follow the Federal Constitution as he seems to have lost the majority in the Dewan Rakyat. It is only right and honourable for him to seek an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and it is up to the king to accept his resignation or not," he added.
If his resignation is accepted, Muhyiddin will be the shortest-serving prime minister - 17 months. This is about five months shy of Dr Mahathir Mohamad's second stint as premier.
Despite the Bersatu president's decision, Redzuan said the political turmoil is not over yet.
"Whoever is causing the impasse, don't just celebrate because Muhyiddin falls. How do you move forward? I don't see how to move forward unless we must show our support for the present government until the 15th general election," he added.
The Alor Gajah MP then pointed his finger at the 14 Umno lawmakers who withdrew their support for PN and Muhyiddin, for causing the political impasse.
"The Umno 14 (who withdrew their support for PN and Muhyiddin) are obsessed in supporting the kleptocrat, they betrayed PN," he said.
With the collapse of the PN government, Redzuan cautioned that the country may either see the rise of a kleptocrat government or be in a potential political limbo as no party commands a majority in the Dewan Rakyat.
This is particularly so when no party can come up with a prime minister candidate that will enjoy the majority support among the parties, he said.
"We had tried to accelerate the next general election to get a fresh mandate by expediting vaccination. We can have an election by early next year, so why don't these people who are hungry and crazy (for power) be patient and win the polls?" he asked.
Redzuan described Muhyiddin as being composed when he informed Bersatu ministers and MPs of his resignation plan earlier today.
While noting it was hard for Muhyiddin to reverse the disadvantage by gaining the support of dissident MPs, Redzuan hoped that the Agong may look at the option of the formation of a minority government that continues to be led by PN.
"We need to be sure that the Confidence and Supply Agreement (CSA) is in place if there is a minority government.
"I am clearing my office now and saying goodbye to my staff," he added.
Muhyiddin's majority collapsed after 15 Umno MPs withdrew support for him.
The remaining 23 Umno MPs are still supporting Muhyiddin but they are not enough to make up a majority.
Muhyiddin now has 100 MPs, 11 short of a simple majority. There are presently 220 MPs in the Dewan Rakyat while another two seats are vacant.
On Aug 13, Muhyiddin, through a televised address, indirectly declared that he no longer commanded majority support from MPs to be prime minister.
In that address, he urged the opposition to back him in an upcoming confidence vote in Parliament and promised a slew of reforms in return.
Muhyiddin invited opposition MPs to discuss the offer this week.
Only two Pakatan Harapan MPs - Ong Kian Ming (Bangi) and Tony Pua (Damansara) - urged the opposition to at least listen to the proposals.
However, every opposition party has rejected the offer.
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