Statements saying Muhyiddin, Zahid resigning fake, say aides

 

Two separate statements claiming that Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi are resigning are fake, according to their respective aides.

The fake statement about Muhyiddin resigning claimed that the prime minister was stepping down as the government had failed to contain the Covid-19 pandemic. His office denied that he was quitting.

The fake statement about Zahid resigning was attributed to Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan. It did not state why he was stepping down. Zahid's officers denied the statement was genuine.

The false statements came after Zahid challenged Muhyiddin to resign after the Umno supreme council decided to retract support for the prime minister.

However, it is unclear how many of Umno's 38 MPs will be following the party's decision.

Opponents have painted Zahid as misrepresenting the decision of the Umno supreme council.

Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is against withdrawing from the PN government, claimed a majority of Umno supreme council members were also not supportive of the decision.

Based on Malaysiakini's tracking, Zahid has the support of at least nine Umno MPs.

However, he is unlikely to oust Muhyiddin any time soon.

Attorney-General Idrus Harun had said Muhyiddin can continue on as prime minister as his majority cannot be decided just by Zahid's statement.

He said the majority must be determined by the MPs themselves.

Parliament is scheduled to be convened on July 26. - Mkini