Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's call for MPs to support the Perikatan Nasional government but not Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is not practical, said a supreme council member.
Zahidi Zainul, who is also the deputy communications and multimedia minister, said Zahid should put such a practice to the test in Umno first.
"The Umno president can try to practise this in Umno - support Umno but not the Umno president.
"We can try; if this works in Umno, then we can try with other parties," Zahidi said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today. A video of it was live-streamed by Astro Awani.
Zahidi is among the Umno rebels pushing for the party to stick with Muhyiddin and PN.
He argued that Umno's decision to sever ties with Muhyiddin's party Bersatu will only take effect in the 15th general election.
According to Zahidi, 40 BN lawmakers have signed statutory declarations to prove to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong that Muhyiddin still has majority support.
He said there are only two outliers (not supporting the prime minister) - Zahid and Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
"We are trying to negotiate for two more (BN MPs) to support (Muhyiddin), but Razaleigh has left (PN) so we can't negotiate.
"If possible, the Umno president should support (the prime minister)," he said.
Meanwhile, the deputy minister said three former PKR MPs - including Kuala Langat MP Dr Xavier Jayakumar - have also declared support for Muhyiddin.
"I'm not sure who, but the information is three (former) PKR (MPs) including Xavier and the others have jumped over," Zahidi said.
Besides Xavier and the 10 MPs who quit PKR to support the Sheraton Move last year, PKR has also lost three other MPs, namely Steven Choong (Tebrau), Larry Sng (Julau), and Jugah Muyang (Lubok Antu).
Meanwhile, on a separate matter, Zahidi warned politicians and the public against sharing "fake" documents which insult the palace.
He said the government had proof of the MPs sharing these "fake" documents, which could be investigated under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
"We have proof, but we don't want to take action.
"However, if it is to challenge the government, then we will be forced to take action," Zahidi said.
He did not clarify what he meant by fake documents, but it is believed to be referring to a letter that was purportedly from Istana Negara to Muhyiddin.
The letter, dated Thursday, was circulated widely on social media, including by some politicians.
Malaysiakini is unable to determine the letter's authenticity.
The purported letter included more details behind the king's rebuke against the government for attempting to bypass Parliament in revoking the emergency ordinances. - Mkini
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