AN attempt is being made to show that Dr Mahathir Mohamad has the support of the majority of members of parliament to become the prime minister once again.

A letter dated May 1, written by Warisan president and Semporna MP Mohd Shafie Apdal to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof, seeks permission for the motion and resolution on the matter to be allowed when Parliament sits for a day on May 18.

When contacted, the speaker refused to comment on the matter, saying that a statement will be issued tomorrow.

Ariff has confirmed that his office received Shafie’s letter.

A copy is also circulating on social media.

The motion, if allowed and passed, will also indirectly be a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

The one-day sitting is for the new Perikatan Nasional government to discuss matters and legislation related to the Covid-19 pandemic and its stimulus package.

The sitting will also be the first for Muhyiddin as prime minister after taking over on March 1.

He had earlier pulled his party Bersatu out of the Pakatan Harapan pact, resulting in the collapse of the government.

The turmoil started with Dr Mahathir’s resignation as prime minister on February 24.

He then agreed to return as the prime minister with the support of other PH parties but Muhyiddin by then had the support of Umno, PAS and Sarawak ruling pact GPS to show to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to form the next government.

Dr Mahathir remains in Bersatu and was elected unchallenged as the party’s chairman while Muhyiddin is facing challenge from Mukhriz Mahathir for the president’s post in the forthcoming party polls.

Earlier today, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim said PH has agreed to nominate the PKR president as the opposition leader. – May 7, 2020.