Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin betrayed Bersatu's struggle and misled others by claiming he has no immediate interest in taking on the top job, says former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Speaking in an extensive interview with Malay daily Sinar Harian, Mahathir said that the party discussed his views during the recent political crisis but that they were roundly rejected.
"Muhyiddin's actions betrayed the party's struggle. I was disappointed by the actions of someone who always told me he was a strong supporter of mine and had no interest in becoming prime minister.
"Suddenly he was willing to cooperate with the kleptocrats for their support. I couldn't accept it. He rejected me and he accepted (former premier) Najib Abdul Razak. So I was disappointed. Perhaps the word 'traitor' might seem inaccurate to some. But I feel that such an act betrayed the struggle," he said.
A showdown between the two former allies is looming with a total of 189 Bersatu divisions set to vote for their new national leadership on April 18.
Following the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government, Mahathir had wanted to form a new government of technocrats that did not follow party lines.
However, he was out-manoeuvred by Muhyiddin, who joined forces with PKR defectors as well as BN, PAS, GPS and other minor parties to form a new Perikatan Nasional government.
Muhyiddin, who was sworn in as prime minister on March 1, had also sought to take control of Bersatu by assuming the position of acting Bersatu chairperson, ignoring Mahathir's official hold on the position.
Asked if he might play a role in a possible ouster of Muhyiddin, in the same way he helped remove Abdullah Badawi and Najib, Mahathir said he wanted to wait and see how Muhyiddin's PN government performs.
"Are the people who indirectly gave Muhyiddin his victory, the ones who are going to be in jail while Muhyiddin is prime minister?," he asked, in reference to a slew of Umno leaders, including Najib, who are facing corruption trials.
Mahathir said that Muhyiddin has a tricky balancing act to carry out, as evidenced by his move not to appoint a deputy prime minister, as whoever he chose, the decision would be met with discontent from other parties who were not selected for the post.
The Langkawi MP will turn 95 later this year and is set to find himself in the unfamiliar position of an opposition leader in Parliament.
"I'm not a (typical) opposition (type) - but I want to be a prudent opposition. I want to see what's important.
"My priority from then until now is about the position of the Malays. That's my main fight. Even if I have no power, there are many things I can do to advance the Malays," he said.
He urged Muhyiddin to carry on with plans to improve living conditions for the poor.
"We already have a framework for solving big debt problems. We also have a framework for how to grow the country's economy. We also have plans to increase the income of the villagers compared to the towns. I hope Muhyiddin will use the plans," added Mahathir. - Mkini
Hahahaha seems like he's clinging to his pm's post
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