Muhyiddin ‘forced’ PM to call for snap polls, says Zahid
PETALING JAYA: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is responsible for forcing the hands of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to call for snap polls, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic).
The Barisan Nasional chairman said Ismail Sabri could have sacked the 12 Perikatan ministers for writing the letter to the King but did not do so to avoid “a bigger tragedy”.
It was revealed that 12 Cabinet ministers of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia and PAS had sent a letter to the King dated Oct 3 to state that they were against the general election being held during the monsoon season this year.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Umno president, took potshots at Muhyiddin for being the instigator goading Cabinet ministers to rebel against the Prime Minister.
By spelling “Muhyiddin” as “Mahiaddin” – a style used by the opposition to hit back at the former prime minister – Ahmad Zahid said that even though Muhyiddin’s party was holding positions in the government, the latter continued to criticise Ismail Sabri and make demands to shame the Prime Minister.
Ahmad Zahid said that the 12 Perikatan ministers had turned their backs on the Prime Minister with the letter to the King, did away with government solidarity and led to the King’s unhappiness with the political developments.
The Bagan Datuk MP said Muhyiddin’s two major actions left Ismail Sabri with no choice but to dissolve Parliament.
“This could have been discussed in the Cabinet without going to the palace and publicised.
“He also demanded the deputy prime minister’s post and the agreement signed (between Ismail Sabri and Muhyiddin), even when Bersatu already holds Senior Minister posts, Cabinet Ministers and GLC posts,” he said in a Facebook post on Wednesday (Oct 12).
“Asking for the deputy prime minister’s post was insensitive to economic recovery and prudency policy. Mahiaddin had then threatened to push the button to retract support from Ismail Sabri.
“Secondly, Mahiaddin, as the National Recovery Council chairman, said that the Prime Minister failed to manage the country and its economy well. This was despite him being the head of NRC and a Bersatu leader as the minister in charge of economic affairs.
“Mahiaddin himself suggested that Parliament be dissolved based on the failure (of Ismail Sabri), saying there should be a more efficient government.
“The letter of the 12 is the immediate cause which led to no-confidence against the government of the Prime Minister.
“The Prime Minister could have sacked the 12 Cabinet Ministers, but that would have led to a bigger and more serious crisis and involved no-confidence votes. The best way to deal with the indiscipline Cabinet members was to ask the King to dissolve Parliament.
“In less than five years, the political instability led to three prime ministers. This tragedy must not be repeated. If Barisan gets a bigger mandate, this would not happen,” said Ahmad Zahid.
In the past few weeks leading to the dissolution of the Parliament on Oct 10, there has been much trading of barbs between Ahmad Zahid and Muhyiddin on the efficiency of the government under Ismail Sabri, as the former pushed for snap polls this year.