Not surprised predecessors in cahoots, says PM

It comes as no surprise that former prime ministers Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Muhyiddin Yassin are in “cahoots” to defend their ways and wealth, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today.

This comes after Muhyiddin visited Mahathir at the latter’s home in Seri Kembangan, Selangor on Tuesday night for nearly two hours.

“This is not a new thing (on such moves). We know that these groups will collude to continue their ways and defend their wealth.

“However, we (the government) will still be responsible for defending and protecting the country and the people’s wellbeing,” he told reporters after attending the 2023 International Social Wellbeing Conference at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel today.

On Tuesday, Mahathir and Muhyiddin appeared to have finally buried the hatchet and sat down for a discussion for the first time since the infamous Sheraton Move in 2020.

Muhyiddin then revealed that his meeting with Mahathir was not focused on the Malay Proclamation, but claimed to have spoken “at length about the position and future of the Malays”.

Former prime ministers Muhyiddin Yassin (left) and Dr Mahathir Mohamad

The Perikatan Nasional chairperson said the pair also agreed on strengthening the unity among the Malays and increasing support for PN, especially in the upcoming six state elections.

The Malay Proclamation, which lists 12 key problems faced by the community, is an initiative by Mahathir to unite the Malays across the political divide.

Muhyiddin is the second key figure in the Sheraton Move to have visited Mahathir over the past week after Azmin Ali.

Mahathir had previously called Muhyiddin a “betrayer” for the latter's role in the Sheraton Move, which caused the fall of the Pakatan Harapan government in February 2020.

After the events of the Sheraton Move, Mahathir formed a new party called Pejuang, but it was vanquished during the parliamentary elections.

Now, his central platform is the Malay Proclamation, a movement that he hopes will unite Malays politically.

In recent months, the former premier appeared to have softened his stance regarding Muhyiddin and the latter's Perikatan Nasional coalition. - Mkini