Muhyiddin's refusal to resign exposes govt to legal risks - Umno deputy president

 

Muhyiddin Yassin's refusal to resign from the prime minister's post despite losing his majority in the Dewan Rakyat is exposing the government to legal risks, said Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan.

"The actions of the prime minister who has clearly lost his legitimacy after losing the support of the majority and does not step down immediately will cause the various actions decided by the government to have significant legal repercussions.

"The legitimacy and constitutionality of every decision made by the executive can be challenged.

"This will put the government in a difficult position, exposing them to a multitude of legal disputes and financial loss risks," he said in a statement.

Yesterday, Muhyiddin, in an attempt to rebuild his collapsed majority, offered the opposition several reform initiatives but was rebuffed.

The Umno faction led by party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who has withdrawn support for Muhyiddin, also rejected the offer.

Mohamad (above) said the fact that none had taken up Muhyiddin's offer confirmed he had lost his majority.

He added that Muhyiddin's attempt to delay a test of his majority is making matters difficult for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who has had to write to Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun to verify Muhyiddin's numbers.

"To prevent the nation from continuing to spiral down in the midst of this constitutional disarray, the executive must come through and take the right action and uphold the Constitution.

"They must ease and assist the Agong in carrying out his constitutional duty rather than complicating it.

"The prime minister seems to be the only one defending a position that can no longer be defended. He should know that the Constitution is non-negotiable," he said.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin

The embattled premier had promised to undergo a vote of confidence on Sept 7 but the palace has requested an earlier date.

A total of 15 Umno MPs have renounced Muhyiddin but the Pagoh MP still retains the support of the remaining 23 Umno MPs.

He now commands the support of 100 out of 220 MPs in the Dewan Rakyat, 11 short of a simple majority.

 - Mkini