BARU Bian today said he shifted his support to Muhyiddin Yassin for prime minister because Dr Mahathir Mohamad “was not keen” on holding office.

“We were made to understand he was not keen to uphold the premiership task,” the MP from Sarawak said in a statement to explain his switching of support

“We then had to take a stand to support the next-in-line, Muhyiddin, to be the candidate for the next prime minister.

“Following a statement issued by Dr Mahathir on February 29 that he is prepared to stand as a prospective candidate for prime minister, I once again pledged my continued support for him,” said the Selangau MP and former works minister.

Baru, who quit PKR after Mohamed Azmin Ali and Zuraida Kamaruddin were sacked last week, surprised everyone last night when he showed up at Yayasan Al Bukhary to pledge his support for Dr Mahathir.

Baru has received harsh criticism on social media for leaving PKR and following Azmin, and for his apparent willingness to be in alliance with Umno and PAS.

Today he said he had been consistent about supporting Dr Mahathir for prime minister.

“Working in his cabinet for the past 21 months as the works minister, I was able to achieve many tasks intended for a better Sarawak. 

“His Shared Prosperity Vision was taking shape under his leadership, and I had his support to initiate several key projects for Sarawak after 50 years. This included the Sarawak Sabah Link Road, the Trans-Borneo Highway, dilapidated schools, hospital repairs and so on, not forgetting the savings from the Pan-Borneo cancellation of PDP (the middleman) of RM2.86 billion, which will be put to good use for Sarawak state. Under Budget 2020, one of the biggest allocations was accorded to Sarawak.”

Besides Baru, 113 other MPs last night signed statutory declarations to support Dr Mahathir as prime minister.

However, the Yang Di Pertuan Agong is to swear in Muhyiddin at 10.30am.

Pakatan Harapan led by Dr Mahathir are disputing Muhyiddin’s majority now that several MPs have changed their stand.

Six Bersatu MPs, including Dr Mahathir, his son Mukhriz, and party outh chief Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman, have also denied signing a document supporting Muhyiddin.

Dr Mahathir and PH will not be attending the new PM’s swearing-in ceremony today. – AFP, March 1, 2020.