Idris Jusoh backs Muhyiddin, says Umno's future brighter with PN

 

Umno's Besut MP Idris Jusoh today threw his support behind the Perikatan Nasional government under the leadership of Muhyiddin Yassin.

The Felda chairperson questioned Umno's move to withdraw its support for PN and Muhyiddin as the prime minister.

Stressing that Umno would have a brighter future if it stays with the ruling coalition, Idris said the party should exercise caution in making its decision.

"At a time when the people are suffering due to Covid-19, we shouldn't be too political. We must focus on helping the people," the former Terengganu menteri besar said in a statement.

"For the sake of the people and (in order) not to be political, I have made up my mind to support the existing government under the leadership of Muhyiddin.

"(Umno president Ahmad) Zahid (Hamidi) once said Umno MPs were free to choose who they wanted to support in Parliament. Now he has instructed that we must withdraw our support for the government and the prime minister. His decision kept changing," he said.

"Too bad that I did not see a 'game plan' as to where the party president wants to bring us amid the pandemic. We were asked to reject Muhyiddin's leadership. Where are we heading after that?

"Do we want to go back and be the opposition? Do we want to allow the non-Malays to administer Islam? Are we going to support the opposition leader as we are aware of the close relationship between them?

"Umno decided to reject Anwar (Ibrahim) during its annual general assembly but party president said Anwar was his teacher. He quietly signed a statutory declaration in support of Anwar.

"As such, we must be careful in making decisions for the future of Umno. I am of the opinion that Umno will have a better future if we work with the existing government under Muhyiddin's leadership," he said. 

Terengganu Umno chief Ahmad Said

Meanwhile, Terengganu Umno chief Ahmad Said said it was up to Idris to toe the party line or decide on his own.

"We issued a directive because that was the order from Umno headquarters to withdraw support for Muhyiddin," Ahmad was quoted as saying by The Malaysia Insight.

He, however, said the state liaison body did not instruct Idris to resign as Felda chairperson.

Tension is escalating in Umno, the biggest Malay-based party, as a large number of Umno MPs, mainly those serving in Muhyiddin's cabinet, were reluctant to toe the party line by withdrawing their support for the premier.

After Umno announced that 11MPs ceased supporting Muhyiddin, the prime minister said a motion of confidence for his leadership will be tabled in the upcoming Dewan Rakyat sitting in September.

There are 38 Umno MPs in the 222-seat federal Parliament. - Mkini