Will Muafakat Nasional let Muhyiddin chair their coalition? - Mukhriz

Former Bersatu deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir today gives a sceptical response to the party's decision to join Umno and PAS in the latter's Muafakat Nasional (MN) political pact.

He said a political coalition would usually be led by the serving prime minister but doubted if this would be the case with Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin.

"Today, I was told that Muhyiddin, as Bersatu president, has agreed to join MN.

"So, this is something extraordinary because usually, the prime minister would be chairing the largest political coalition.

"But in this case, I do not know if MN would let him be their chairperson because Bersatu is the youngest sibling if they were to accept it into the coalition," he said as quoted by Berita Harian.

Mukhriz was speaking to reporters as he accompanied the independent candidate for Slim by-election in Perak, Amir Khusyairi Mohamad Tanusi, who was campaigning in the town area of Slim River.

Earlier today, Muhyiddin in his pre-recorded speech in conjunction with Bersatu's divisional and wings meetings held nationwide today announced that the party would be joining MN soon.

The prime minister said Bersatu supreme council had given its nod for the party to do so.

Muhyiddin said he believed joining MN is the best choice for Bersatu.

"I believe this would be the best option for Bersatu. We choose to be within a large group that combines the major political parties in our country.

"With the unity between Bersatu, Umno, PAS and other parties in the Perikatan Nasional government, we would already have most of the rakyat's support with us.

"God willing, this unification will create political stability for our country, which will surely bring the joy of peace, harmony and prosperity to all rakyat regardless of their race and religious background," Muhyiddin had said.

Meanwhile, Mukhriz also expressed his scepticism on Muhyiddin's claim that Bersatu's move would lead to political stability in the country.

This was especially when the 15th general election is said to be around the corner, he added.

"All this while, we were told that the prime minister wanted to form Perikatan Nasional. Even in the parliament, all MPs who represent the government call themselves as PN parliamentarians.

"At the same time, we know that PN is not a registered entity, and latest we heard Umno does not want to join PN, while for PAS, I don’t know (what is their position)," he said. - Mkini