Analysts expect little political fallout from Muhyiddin's speech controversy

Amid the media storm and online uproar over Perikatan Nasional chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin’s controversial speech, which has stirred tensions with the Pahang royal family, analysts suggest it may result in only minor political repercussions.

They argue it is unlikely to reshape the political landscape or affect Muhyiddin’s position within his party and coalition, even though the controversy is causing a significant stir in the short term.

University of Tasmania’s Asian Studies professor James Chin suggested that the impact will likely remain confined to social media and will fade within a few days.

“In terms of political impact, this will largely remain a social media issue,” said Chin.

“But in a few days, it will likely die down. The police will act swiftly and the matter will be handed over to the Attorney-General’s Chambers, where the AG will ultimately decide what happens next,” he added.

Having numbers but not appointed PM

The controversy began when a clip of Muhyiddin’s remarks during the Nenggiri by-election went viral.

In the clip, he appeared to question why Pahang’s Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who was the reigning Yang di-Pertuan Agong during the 15th general election, did not invite him to the palace to be sworn in as prime minister, despite his claim of having the support of 115 MPs including himself.

Notably, the Pahang ruler had invited Muhyiddin to form a coalition government with Anwar Ibrahim's Pakatan Harapan but he declined the offer.

Chin also noted that the public is less concerned with whether Muhyiddin’s comments constituted sedition and more interested in whether he can substantiate his claim of having the support of 114 MPs.

“People understand that this sort of issue will crop up day to day. I think it is widely understood that Muhyiddin said that thing in the heat of the moment. And, like he said, he was merely stating a fact.

“So now, for most people, the issue is not really if he committed sedition, but it is for him to prove that he had the numbers,” he added.

Following Muhyiddin’s speech, Pahang Crown Prince Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah expressed his displeasure, saying the former prime minister was cynically belittling and questioning his father’s role as Agong.

The crown prince called for the police to take action against Muhyiddin on Aug 19, which led to the recording of the Pagoh MP’s statement on Aug 21.

Speech questions Anwar govt’s legitimacy

Syaza Shukri, a political scientist at the International Islamic University Malaysia, pointed out that while Muhyiddin had the right to talk about his experience, his speech raised questions about the legitimacy of the Anwar-led government.

“This is despite Anwar’s government already securing a vote of confidence in Parliament. There should be no further questions about who should or shouldn’t be in government - this matter is done with,” she emphasised.

Echoing similar sentiment, Mohammad Tawfik Yaakub, a lecturer in political science, public administration, and development studies at Universiti Malaya, said Muhyiddin’s personal experiences do not justify openly criticising the royals.

“We do not want to set a precedent where individuals or groups feel free to openly express dissatisfaction or differing opinions about the royal institution, especially during election campaigns.

“Even though he claims that the content of his speech was based on his personal experiences, this does not justify actions or words that could be seen as disrespectful to the head of the country, dragging the royal institution into the political arena,” he added.

Tawfik suggested that Muhyiddin issue an immediate apology to the Pahang sultan and crown prince to resolve the matter.

Syaza also advised against prolonging the controversy, urging Muhyiddin not to repeatedly raise the statutory declaration issue.

“On the other hand, the police or government don’t need to be too heavy-handed in resolving this matter because it’s just a statement made,” she said.

Political necessity or internal rift?

After Tengku Hassanal’s statement, PN assemblypersons in Pahang released a statement backing the crown prince’s call for an investigation into their coalition chairperson and affirming their loyalty to the royal family.

While some may find the statement surprising, Chin believes it was a necessary step to maintain the state party's long-term relationship with the palace.

“All the politicians in Pahang understand that their lines of communication with the palace is crucial.

“If you go against the palace, your lives will be very hard, especially come election time. So, they didn’t have a choice,” he said.

However, Tawfik suggested that the statement might indicate a rift between PN’s national and state leadership.

“Pahang PN appears to be distancing itself from the issue by taking an opposing stance. This may be a mild rebuke for national PN, as some Pahang PN leaders are also part of the national leadership,” he added.

Following Muhyiddin’s statement, Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain confirmed yesterday that the investigation papers had been submitted to the AGC for further action.

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