MUHYIDDIN Yassin is on shaky ground as prime minister ahead of his swearing in ceremony today as Pakatan Harapan (PH) continues to show it has the numbers for Dr Mahathir Mohamad to keep the job.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah yesterday named Muhyiddin for the job to end a week-long political crisis triggered by a group of PH lawmakers joining their political foes with the hope that Dr Mahathir would come along.

Instead, the 94-year-old politician quit his second stint in the job, sparking a race between Muhyiddin and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim to become the country’s eighth prime minister.

Muhyiddin’s assertion to have the support of all 36 Bersatu MPs was thrown into doubt early yesterday when a leadership tussle broke out between him and former party chairman Dr Mahathir.

The new feud resulted in some Bersatu MPs declaring that they would switch sides from Muhyiddin to Dr Mahathir, casting doubt on the Bersatu president’s claim to 114 MPs supporting his bid as prime minister.

However, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan then revealed to the media that Muhyiddin did indeed have 114 MPs on his side.

Along with the MPs from Umno, PAS, Bersatu, MCA and MIC, Muhyiddin received backing from Gabungan Parti Sarawak which contributed 18 MPs.

Dr Mahathir remains PH’s prospective prime ministerial candidate, which until 4.30pm yesterday, was attempting to form the next government.

However, the announcement from Istana Negara that Muhyiddin was the man for the job triggered another round of lawmakers switching allegiances.

Political scientist Dr Mazlan Ali threw cold water on the assertion Muhyiddin had 114 MPs backing him.

“The only people who are solidly backing Muhyiddin are PAS and Umno. Bersatu and even the Sarawakian politicians I believe are not solid, they can still be swayed especially since Dr Mahathir is back in the picture.”

When Dr Mahathir was named as PH’s prime minister nominee this morning, at least three Bersatu MPs announced that they had switched their support from Muhyiddin to the nonagenarian politician, who was first prime minister from 1981 to 2003.

They are, Mukhriz Mahathir (Jerlun), Dr Maszlee Malik (Simpang Renggam) and Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muar).

It also emerged later in the evening that two more joined them: Amiruddin Hamzah (Kubang Pasu) and Eddin Syazlee Shith (Kuala Pilah).

“Dr Mahathir and Muhyiddin are also fighting for control of Bersatu, so Dr Mahathir can still pull more MPs to his side. This crisis is not over.”

It also understood that more Bersatu MPs could switch sides once it emerges that leaders from Umno, a party tainted by corruption scandals, will return to the federal government.

Several top Umno leaders, including its president Abdul Zahid Hamidi, are on trial for corruption and fraud.

Lawyers fear that these cases could be dropped if the party returns to federal power.

Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Dr Azmil Tayeb said PH should table a motion of no-confidence at the next parliamentary sitting scheduled on March 9 to resolve the disputed numbers.

“MPs should be given the option of voting anonymously, so that they can vote with their conscience, instead of along party lines,” said the political scientist.

“It should go to Parliament since it’s technically representing the will of the rakyat. That’s the democratic way to do it, short of holding a snap election.”

This argument was echoed by Dr Tunku Mohar Tunku Mokhtar of the International Islamic University, who said that for now, it was best that PH accept the palace’s decision until the Dewan Rakyat reconvenes.

“MPs from whatever party can then declare their support for Dr Mahathir and, when the majority is achieved, a motion of no confidence is likely to succeed.” – March 1, 2020.