Dispute over 'BN statement' backing Muhyiddin as PM

 

A dispute has erupted over complicating claims regarding the authenticity of a statement alleging that nearly all BN parliamentarians have voiced support for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to remain in his post.

The disputed statement signed by Deputy Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob claims that he had chaired a meeting involving 40 MPs from the coalition, who unanimously supported “the government under Mahiaddin Md Yasin’s leadership”.

Mahiaddin is Muhyiddin’s legal name.

An aide to Ismail Sabri told Malaysiakini that the statement is authentic.

For the record, BN has a total of 42 MPs.

However, BN executive secretary Mohamad Sahfri Ab Aziz later issued another statement (below, left) denouncing the purported statement from Ismail Sabri as fake.

A BN statement (left) denying an earlier statement (right) allegedly from Deputy Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob that he had chaired a BN meeting. 

“The BN headquarters denies the existence of the letter using the party logo and address that has been published and gone viral.

“Any official party statement can only be issued by the party chairperson or secretary-general and will only be issued through official party communications channels,” he said.

Mohamad Sahfri’s statement has been posted on BN's official Facebook.

The dispute comes amid fresh doubts over Muhyiddin’s grip on power following a rebuke from Istana Negara earlier today.

The palace had revealed that the ruler asked de facto Law Minister Takiyuddin Hassan and Attorney-General Idrus Harun to ensure that the emergency ordinances were revoked through a debate and subsequent vote in Parliament, something which the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government refused to comply with.

It reprimanded the government for failing to act in line with the Federal Constitution.

The Prime Minister’s Office countered Muhyiddin had already advised the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to annul the emergency ordinances even before the special Parliament sitting convened on July 26, and the Agong is bound under Article 40(1) of the Federal Constitution to act in accordance with the advice.

Meanwhile, at a press conference at the Parliament lobby after the Dewan Rakyat was adjourned for the week, BN’s Pekan MP Najib Abdul Razak said Muhyiddin should resign over the royal rebuke.

“Following the Agong’s wrath, I’m of the view that prime minister Muhyiddin must take responsibility for what had happened, and the best option is for Muhyiddin to step down honourably because this reflects a prime minister who takes responsibility for what happens in his government’s name.

“Even though it was done by someone else, the buck stops with the prime minister,” he said.

Najib also reiterated the Umno supreme council's decision to back the PN government but not for Muhyiddin to remain as prime minister – a decision that many Umno MPs have rebelled against. - Mkini