MUHYIDDIN Yassin, who has lost support and legitimacy as the prime minister (PM), should resign honourably, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) presidential council said.

It is clear he has lost support after Umno, the largest party in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, has withdrawn its support, the council said in a statement 

“When the leader (Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) of the largest party (Umno) announced the withdrawal of support, the PM has lost the support of that party and subsequently, lost the support of the majority of MPs.

“Therefore, Muhyiddin must resign with honour.”

The council’s statement was signed by PKR president and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu.

Last night, Umno Supreme Council held a four-hour meeting, at the end of which Zahid announced the party was withdrawing its support for Muhyiddin as PM.

Umno also demanded Muhyiddin’s resignation and an interim PM to replace him while the Covid-19 pandemic is brought under control, after which a general election is to be held. 

Umno has 38 MPs in the Dewan Rakyat and if all abide with the supreme council’s decision, Muhyiddin would lose his majority in Parliament. 

However, the party is said to be split over the decision.

Attorney-General Idrus Harun has said that that Muhyiddin remains the PM by law unless another MP can prove he or she has majority support of the Dewan Rakyat.

Idrus said as of now, the government does not have any clear evidence to show that Muhyiddin has lost the confidence of the majority of the Dewan Rakyat members.

Constitutionally, he remains the PM and any test of his support must be done in Parliament, and not because Umno demands his resignation, Idrus said.

Responding to the attorney-general, the PH presidential council said Muhyiddin was appointed PM based on support from political party leaders, including Zahid himself, which were conveyed to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in February last year after the “Sheraton Move”.

“Clearly the attorney-general is acting more as a PN politician than defending the rule of law,” the PH council said.

Muhyiddin became PM after leading a parliamentary coup that saw former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad resign, causing the PH government to collapse. – July 8, 2021.