Lawyer questions Muhyiddin's authority to lead Bersatu into PN

Senior lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla has questioned Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin's mandate to lead the party to enter into a memorandum of understanding with BN, PAS, GPS and two other Sabah-based parties to formalise the Perikatan Nasional coalition.

Haniff said he raised the question as the Bersatu disciplinary council is reportedly looking at two complaints against Muhyiddin, one on the party's exit from Pakatan Harapan and the other on Bersatu's subsequent move to form the PN federal government.

"With the two complaints, there is now a question of Muhyiddin's mandate for the purpose of entering into any agreement to form Perikatan Nasional.

"This is a serious question which must be considered by all," Haniff said in a Facebook post.

Haniff said he had raised the question over concerns that the matter could raise further questions from Bersatu members and leaders on Muhyiddin's mandate to secure support from BN, PAS, Sarawak's GPS, as well as Parti Bersatu Sabah and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR).

In a joint statement yesterday, Muhyiddin, along with BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, GPS chairperson Abang Johari Openg, PBS president Maximus Johnity Ongkili and STAR president Jeffrey Kitingan, outlined the contents of PN's memorandum on the foundation of their cooperation.

Last week, Malaysiakini reported that at least 15 Bersatu leaders and members had written a letter to the party's disciplinary board to demand action against Muhyiddin for allegedly acting without a mandate from the majority of members or leaders to withdraw Bersatu from Harapan.

The complaint letter followed news reports based on leaked audio from a Bersatu Supreme Council meeting, in which sources confirmed that Muhyiddin (above) had said the mandate should be given to Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad to decide whether the party should remain with Harapan or otherwise.

Haniff, who is Mahathir's former legal counsel, further urged all parties, including Bersatu, to call for a "political ceasefire" as the country battles against the Covid-19 pandemic.

"I am sure many will agree that all parties, be it (other) political parties or those within Bersatu in dealing with its internal affairs, should exercise a ceasefire on all political moves.

"In this holy month (Ramadan), I am sure this matter can be looked at in an objective and rational manner," he said.

Earlier this month, it was reported that the Umno Supreme Council had rejected a proposal to formally join PN in order to safeguard the position and interest of the party.

Similarly, GPS had also previously stressed that it would not join PN.

Since taking over Putrajaya in March, PN has also ousted the Harapan state governments of Johor, Perak, Malacca and Kedah. - Mkini