THE biggest challenge for Muhyiddin Yassin will be in holding together the four parties that comprise the ruling Perikatan Nasional (PN) pact, said PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

“The biggest challenge for Muhyiddin is will he be able to hold these parties together? Can he create a solid cohesiveness among them. How long can he stay with PAS, Umno, MIC, MCA and GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak),” asked Saifuddin in a Pakatan Harapan (PH) ceramah in Klang last night.

Saifuddin, who is also PH secretary, also questioned the new prime minister’s capabilities to deliver the goods for Malaysians.

“The world also wants to know what can he offer to Malaysians. What can he bring?

“I listened to his maiden speech, nothing special from it because what he said was what PH had been doing,” he said.

He added that Muhyiddin’s health was also a worry, as he had been on sick leave due to cancer.

“I rarely missed cabinet meetings because my ministry is not as busy as others. I would be among the first every Wednesday and we know who would be absent.

“(But) Muhyiddin was always on sick leave because of his health. He is a cancer patient and my sympathy is with him,” he said.

PH lost control of the federal government on Sunday last week and in the fallout, Bersatu president Muhyiddin cobbled together a coalition comprising BN, PAS and independents aligned with former PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali, and supported by GPS.

DAP leader Anthony Loke, meanwhile, said nothing can stop PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang to move a motion for a vote of confidence to support Muhyiddin.

He was replying to Hadi’s statement that a vote of no-confidence against Muhyiddin would be disrespectful to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Loke, who is Seremban MP, also challenged the Marang MP to put forward the motion during the next parliamentary sitting.

“Will Muhyiddin have the numbers to show that he has the support from MPs in Dewan Rakyat?” said Loke.

Hadi’s suggestion was also shot down by civil rights group National Patriots’ Association who said a vote of no-confidence is democratically allowed. – March 8, 2020.