SHAH ALAM – Former premier Muhiyddin Yassin today wrote on the infamous Sheraton move from his point of view, recalling the events in Feb 2020 which saw the sudden collapse of elected Pakatan Harapan coalition.
"I did not stab anyone. I just wanted to save the country," Muhyiddin said.
He further wrote on the morning of Feb 24, 2020 when former prime minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad resigned as Bersatu chairman and the country's premier.
He said he met Mahathir at the nonagenarian’s home.
"At the same time, a letter of his resignation as prime minister was sent to the Istana Negara.
"I was very surprised by Tun Mahathir's resignation. I rushed back to his house to persuade him to withdraw his resignation but he insisted his intention.”
Later in the afternoon, he revealed that leaders of Bersatu, Pas, Umno, GPS and Warisan gathered at Mahathir's house to talk him into withdrawing his resignation.
Unfortunately, Tun still did not want to do so.
Addressing the reason for the unsolicited decision, Muhyiddin revealed that the letter he received, "He (Mahathir) no longer has the support of the party's (Bersatu) Supreme Council which represents party members.
A day prior, Bersatu's Supreme Leadership Council had decided to leave Pakatan Harapan (PH). He resigned because he was not satisfied with Bersatu's decision to leave PH.”
Muhyiddin claimed that Mahathir initiated a move to get Bersatu out of Pakatan Harapan (PH) when he was urged by several parties in PH to step down from premiership to make way for Anwar Ibrahim, however he made a U-turn at the last minute when PH Presidential Council in its meeting on Feb 21, 2020 decided to continue to support him as prime minister, according to Muhyiddin.
He added that Mahathir than tried to convince Bersatu's supreme council members to remain in PH, but the council almost unanimously decided otherwise as they thought that Bersatu was losing support from Malays due to the behaviour of some parties in PH especially DAP which was seen as having failed to protect the sensitivity of Muslims and multi-racial community in the country.
Muhyiddin continued by noting the loss of Bersatu contestants on PH ticket in Semenyih and Tanjung Piai by-elections, "Malay voters’ support for Bersatu declined at that time even though both these seats were won by Bersatu in GE14.”
Furthermore, he insisted that Mahathir should have not resigned despite Bersatu’s opposing decision to leave PH as there were 138 sworn declarations by MPs from Bersatu, PKR, Pas, BN, GPS, PBS and Warisan who still supported him as the prime minister including himself.
"In other words, even if Bersatu left PH, his position as Prime Minister would not be affected. Unfortunately, Tun Mahathir resigned anyway on his own accord,” Muhyiddin said.
Citing Article 43(2) of the Federal Constitution, a new prime minister must be appointed by the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong once a prime minister resigns.
After Mahathir's resignation, Muhyiddin as the party president chaired a special meeting with Bersatu where a unanimous decision to re-nominate Mahathir as prime minister was reached. Accordingly, all Bersatu MPs had been instructed to support the re-nomination, Muhyiddin added.
However, Pas and Umno presidents suggested Muhyiddin to accept the nomination as prime minister which he rejected in respect to the party's decision to support Mahathir.
As all MP were called before the King to determine who had the majority support to be appointed as prime minister, Muhyiddin said he expressed his support for Mahathir.
Unfortunately, Mahathir failed to get the majority support of MPs even from most who had who signed the declarations in support of him as Prime Minister earlier.
On the other hand, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also failed to get majority support for the post leaving a power vacuum until one of the MPs receives majority support.
Muhyiddin said that he was once again approached by from Pas and Umno who expressed their support for him to be the prime minister as they believed that it was the only way to save the country.
To showcase his respect to Mahathir, Muhyiddin met him to ask for support.
"He told me he was ready to support me as prime minister if I managed to get the support of the majority of MPs.
"I told Tun Mahathir, God willing, I will get the support of the majority.”
However, Mahathir made another U-turn by nominating himself as prime minister against him, Muhyiddin said.
"Did I stab him in the back? Am I treacherous?, ” he asked.
He said he did it to "save the religion, race and country.”
Denying himself a traitor, he said he will reveal the reason Bersatu left PH in the future.
"I did not stab anyone. I just wanted to save the country," Muhyiddin said.
He further wrote on the morning of Feb 24, 2020 when former prime minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad resigned as Bersatu chairman and the country's premier.
He said he met Mahathir at the nonagenarian’s home.
"At the same time, a letter of his resignation as prime minister was sent to the Istana Negara.
"I was very surprised by Tun Mahathir's resignation. I rushed back to his house to persuade him to withdraw his resignation but he insisted his intention.”
Later in the afternoon, he revealed that leaders of Bersatu, Pas, Umno, GPS and Warisan gathered at Mahathir's house to talk him into withdrawing his resignation.
Unfortunately, Tun still did not want to do so.
Addressing the reason for the unsolicited decision, Muhyiddin revealed that the letter he received, "He (Mahathir) no longer has the support of the party's (Bersatu) Supreme Council which represents party members.
A day prior, Bersatu's Supreme Leadership Council had decided to leave Pakatan Harapan (PH). He resigned because he was not satisfied with Bersatu's decision to leave PH.”
Muhyiddin claimed that Mahathir initiated a move to get Bersatu out of Pakatan Harapan (PH) when he was urged by several parties in PH to step down from premiership to make way for Anwar Ibrahim, however he made a U-turn at the last minute when PH Presidential Council in its meeting on Feb 21, 2020 decided to continue to support him as prime minister, according to Muhyiddin.
He added that Mahathir than tried to convince Bersatu's supreme council members to remain in PH, but the council almost unanimously decided otherwise as they thought that Bersatu was losing support from Malays due to the behaviour of some parties in PH especially DAP which was seen as having failed to protect the sensitivity of Muslims and multi-racial community in the country.
Muhyiddin continued by noting the loss of Bersatu contestants on PH ticket in Semenyih and Tanjung Piai by-elections, "Malay voters’ support for Bersatu declined at that time even though both these seats were won by Bersatu in GE14.”
Furthermore, he insisted that Mahathir should have not resigned despite Bersatu’s opposing decision to leave PH as there were 138 sworn declarations by MPs from Bersatu, PKR, Pas, BN, GPS, PBS and Warisan who still supported him as the prime minister including himself.
"In other words, even if Bersatu left PH, his position as Prime Minister would not be affected. Unfortunately, Tun Mahathir resigned anyway on his own accord,” Muhyiddin said.
Citing Article 43(2) of the Federal Constitution, a new prime minister must be appointed by the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong once a prime minister resigns.
After Mahathir's resignation, Muhyiddin as the party president chaired a special meeting with Bersatu where a unanimous decision to re-nominate Mahathir as prime minister was reached. Accordingly, all Bersatu MPs had been instructed to support the re-nomination, Muhyiddin added.
However, Pas and Umno presidents suggested Muhyiddin to accept the nomination as prime minister which he rejected in respect to the party's decision to support Mahathir.
As all MP were called before the King to determine who had the majority support to be appointed as prime minister, Muhyiddin said he expressed his support for Mahathir.
Unfortunately, Mahathir failed to get the majority support of MPs even from most who had who signed the declarations in support of him as Prime Minister earlier.
On the other hand, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also failed to get majority support for the post leaving a power vacuum until one of the MPs receives majority support.
Muhyiddin said that he was once again approached by from Pas and Umno who expressed their support for him to be the prime minister as they believed that it was the only way to save the country.
To showcase his respect to Mahathir, Muhyiddin met him to ask for support.
"He told me he was ready to support me as prime minister if I managed to get the support of the majority of MPs.
"I told Tun Mahathir, God willing, I will get the support of the majority.”
However, Mahathir made another U-turn by nominating himself as prime minister against him, Muhyiddin said.
"Did I stab him in the back? Am I treacherous?, ” he asked.
He said he did it to "save the religion, race and country.”
Denying himself a traitor, he said he will reveal the reason Bersatu left PH in the future.