AMID talks of soured relationship between Bersatu’s top two after the Johor exco reshuffle, Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday had met Muhyiddin Yassin in Putrajaya, said government and party sources.

The 30-minute meeting was at the prime minister’s office after the weekly Cabinet meeting, according to a party source.

“The ties between the two men are fine. This was a matter that can be resolved and it was. It was a small matter.”

Talk on social media surfaced Tuesday that ties between the two have been affected since the reshuffle of the Johor exco.

“Dr Mahathir and Muhyiddin have been long in politics. They know how to ease the tension,” said the source.

The Malaysian Insight was told both men were seen chatting amiably after the cabinet meeting before they headed to the prime minister’s office.

“They were chatting about his (Dr Mahathir) trip to China.”

The Prime Minister flew to Beijing yesterday at 2pm for his official visit to China. He will be there until Sunday. 

The tension between Dr Mahathir and Muhyiddin is said to have started at the Bersatu supreme council meeting that was called after the controversial Johor exco reshuffle by newly minted Menteri Besar Dr Sahruddin Jamal.

“It was not as heated as claimed by some. The narrative being circulated about the meeting is a bit over the top,” said the party source.

News portal Malaysiakini quoting sources reported that Bersatu president Muhyiddin had apologised to Dr Mahathir, who is party chairman, during the supreme council meeting over events in Johor.

Dr Mahathir was said to be angry over the reshuffle after Cabinet had agreed to retain the same line-up after Osman Sapian had resigned.

At the same meeting, Dr Mahathir had expressed his unhappiness over the performance of Bersatu ministers and felt they were not on the same page over some issues.

“There were two things he was unhappy about. One was the performance of Bersatu ministers who he felt were not up to mark,” said the source.

Other than Muhyiddin who has ministerial experience, the rest of the Bersatu ministers are first-timers.

They are Maszlee Malik (Education), Rina Mohd Harun (Rural Development), Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof (Entrepreneur Development), Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Youth and Sports).

“The second issue was over the new MB reshuffling the Johor exco when the instruction was to retain the old line-up.

“Dr Mahathir was disappointed that he had expressed a wish to resign from the party,” said the source.

The new exco members are Tosrin Jarvanthi and Mohd Solihan Badri, from Bersatu and Tan Chen Choon from DAP.

They took their oath of office on Monday.

On April 13, former Johor menteri besar Osman told the media that Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar while accepting his resignation had decreed the exco be reshuffled by his replacement.

Muhyiddin had the Bersatu supreme council the reshuffle had to be done to avoid a confrontation with the palace.

“After his explanation, many in the supreme council expressed their dissatisfaction as the party had given in to the palace.

“They also knew ties between Dr. Mahathir and the Johor palace are cold,” said the source.

Yesterday Dr Mahathir in a blog post said the Federal Constitution is the supreme law of the country and it supersedes state constitutions.

He added that everyone should abide by it, including the Malay rulers. – April 25, 2019