Muhyiddin afraid of his own shadow, not Harapan - Akmal Nasir

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is more likely afraid of his own shadow and not Pakatan Harapan, claims Johor Bahru MP Akmal Nasir.

The PKR lawmaker said this is as Umno and PAS would more likely cause the Perikatan Nasional government to collapse rather than a no-confidence vote against Muhyiddin (above) from former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad or Harapan.

"My belief of the real reason the Parliament session tomorrow was shortened is that it's because they are afraid of their own shadow.

"The fear is that the shadow (of Umno and PAS) leaving them and allowing the government to fall... I don't think Muhyiddin is confident that PN will support him," Akmal told Malaysiakini in a recent interview.

Tomorrow's Parliament sitting has been shortened to end right after the Yang di-Pertuan Agong delivers his opening address. There will be no motions tabled by either the government or opposition.

Previously Mahathir, who is battling Muhyiddin for control of Bersatu, had filed a no-confidence motion, prompting speculation that a showdown will occur in the House tomorrow.

Akmal said if a no-confidence motion did happen, it would take defections from Muhyiddin's side to succeed and there was no guarantee that Umno and PAS would remain loyal to Muhyiddin.

Akmal Nasir

"They may think that they’re even better than Muhyiddin, they may think that (PAS president) Abdul Hadi Awang should be prime minister or deputy prime minister.

"Maybe they'll feel that a no-confidence vote is the way for snap elections, they may actually cast away Muhyiddin just like that because there's no loyalty to him," he said.

He said if a pledge of loyalty by Umno and PAS towards the prime minister was true, this, too, would probably be non-binding as PN does not have an actual pact.

Umno has dismissed joining PN formally leading to speculation that Muhyiddin's party Bersatu will not be an ally once the 15th general election takes place.

Further, said Akmal, those who may be loyal to Muhyiddin are Umno and PAS leaders who have now been politically appointed to either ministry or GLC positions.

This, he said, would mean that Muhyiddin's hold on a majority in Parliament would always be in question.

In late February, Muhyiddin pulled Bersatu out of Harapan in an effort to form a new government with PKR defectors, Umno, and PAS. Mahathir refused to back him leading to a week-long political crisis. 

The impasse ended with Muhyiddin being sworn as prime minister on March 1 after consent was granted by the king. - Mkini