MUHYIDDIN TO GO FOR JOHOR MB POST? ‘THAT IS THE GOLDEN QUESTION’ – EX-DPM STAYS COOL DESPITE FRENZIED UMNO BIDS TO PRY OUT HIS GE14 PLANS

JOHOR BARU – Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is still keeping mum on whether he will defend his Pagoh parliamentary seat in the 14th general election.

He said that decision has not been made yet, and that he will continue to serve as the Pagoh MP as his constituents gave him the support.

“That will be decided at another time. Until today, I am still there (Pagoh) as its elected representative and as the Pagoh PPBM (division) chairman.

“Many people like me in Pagoh. But that decision, will be made when the time is right. PPBM will also make its decision on other seats (in Johor),” said Muhyiddin after a Johor Pakatan Harapan meeting at the state PPBM headquarters in Kempas here.

The meeting finalised a decision to appoint Muhyiddin as the state’s Pakatan Harapan chairman.

Also present were Johor DAP chairman Liew Chin Tong, Parti Amanah Negara (PAN) deputy president Salahuddin Ayub and Johor PAN chairman Aminolhuda Hassan.

When asked if his appointment as state Pakatan Harapan chairman meant that he may become the opposition’s choice for Johor Menteri Besar, if they win the general election, Muhyiddin said: “Not necessarily. That is the golden question that some of us talked about and the final decision must be done by Pakatan (Harapan) at the national-level.

“Whoever that will lead the (state) government, he must be someone who is agreed by all upon consensus, when the time comes,” he said.

There has been speculation that Muhyiddin would contest in nearby Muar parliamentary seat instead of Pagoh as reported by many portals and observers since last year.

Last month, Umno supreme council member Datuk Razali Ibrahim, who is Muar MP, said that the division was ready to face any candidate from the opposition even if it was Muhyiddin.

Muhyiddin was dropped as deputy prime minister and education minister in July 2015. He was later sacked from Umno in June the following year for breaching party rules and sharing a stage with opposition leaders to attack Umno leaders.

Muhyiddin has been Pagoh MP for seven non-consecutive terms since 1978, during which time, he has served as Johor Menteri Besar during from 1986 to 1995.

– https://www.nst.com.my/