Agong's speech proves PN gov't's legitimacy, says Umno man

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s speech at the Dewan Rakyat today should put to rest accusations that the Perikatan Nasional-led government is a "backdoor government", said Umno supreme council member Razlan Rafii.

Razlan (above) said Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah's speech has laid bare that the fall of the Pakatan Harapan-led government was then premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s own doing, and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had appointed Pagoh MP Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister in accordance to the Federal Constitution.

“This proves Muhyiddin’s government is legitimate under the Federal Constitution, and should not be questioned as a 'backdoor government' because his appointment was clearly done in accordance with constitutional provisions.

“As such, I urge the opposition not to be traitorous (derhaka) towards the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s appointment of prime minister. The new government was chosen after Harapan’s own prime minister had resigned, causing the collapse of the 22-month-old government.

“This has absolutely nothing to do with any political manoeuvring including by Umno, which was just watching Harapan’s classical drama performance at the time,” he said in a statement today.

He urged that if Harapan is sincere in wanting to help the people, it should entrust Muhyiddin to administer the country, especially in efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19.

In his speech this morning, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong said he had tried to dissuade Mahathir from resigning, but to no avail.

He said he had appointed Muhyiddin after a process that found the Bersatu president commanded the confidence of the majority of MPs.

Based on the seating plan in the Dewan Rakyat, there are 114 out of 222 MPs that are aligned with the government, though Sri Aman MP Masir Kujat said he was wrongly assigned to the government bench.

This means that Muhyiddin has a slim majority of just two MPs.

Meanwhile, the King also warned MPs not to drag the country into another round of political uncertainty, and not to touch on religious and racial sensitivities as well as the position of the Malay rulers.

Responding to the King’s speech, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal recalled Mahathir’s speeches that purportedly accused DAP of pressuring him on issues related to the Malays and Islam.

He said it was as though the Malays and Islam were being bullied, which culminated in the Malay Dignity Congress last year.

“It has been three terms where the Malays don't control a two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat, so now I think is the best time to unite and strengthen the political power of the Malays.

“I still hold onto what Mahathir wanted, that we need to weaken DAP for Malay politics to have a future. In any case, we have given Mahathir 22 years, and then another two. And perhaps Mahathir was right the first time and the second time, but not always.

“We must realise Bersatu as a pillar of Malay intellect and leadership, for the sake of harmony in our beloved motherland,” the senator said in a Facebook post today.  - Mkini