PRIME Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s government is essentially a dictatorship and Bersatu members who first joined the party to topple Umno should think about why they are still supporting him, Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.

In a video message in conjunction with the second anniversary of the 14th general election in 2018, the first time the government changed in Malaysia, the Bersatu chairman urged party members to reflect on where the party is headed in its cooperation with Umno in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.

“On this second anniversary, Bersatu members must think deeply about the real reason they joined Bersatu. They joined because they could no longer trust Umno.

“But now they have been caught up in lies and deceit and with Umno as part of the government.

“Think properly, don’t be loyal to a leader. Make sure your leaders truly fight for the people, the country and the religion,” Dr Mahathir said in the video posted to his Chedet Official YouTube channel today.

The message comes as Bersatu prepares for party elections once mass gatherings are allowed after movement restrictions against Covid-19 are lifted.

It also comes ahead of the one-day Parliament sitting on May 18, where the government has blocked oral questions, ministers’ question time and motions by MPs to only hear the royal address and government matters on spending for economic stimulus packages.

Dr Mahathir said the one-day Parliament sitting is a sign that “democracy has been eroded” under Muyiddin’s administration.

“If the Najib (Razak) government is called a thieving and kleptocratic government, then Muhyiddin’s government is one that doesn’t allow us to debate in Parliament. 

“This is not only undemocratic, but it is a dictatorship. This is what is happening, indirectly.”

Dr Mahathir, who was prime minister of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, remains in Bersatu although he was ousted by Muhyiddin. He won the chairman’s post uncontested recently.

He is not in support of Muhyiddin’s government, which was formed in late February after the PH government collapsed through plotting and defections. 

Dr Mahathir has also submitted a notice to Parliament for a motion of no-confidence against the prime minister, which has been accepted by the Dewan Rakyat Speaker.

His party Bersatu is currently split between those who support him and those in favour of the PN government.

The nonagenarian leader said Bersatu members must realise that there is no real pact to form a coalition with Umno and PAS.

“Umno has said that they never agreed to form a coalition with Bersatu, they are just supporting Muhyiddin for prime minister.

“They used him to bring down PH. That is the extent of their support.

“Bersatu is hoping that when elections are held, we will contest in a coalition where Umno will share seats with us, that it won’t take our seats.

“But now Umno is saying it will contest in all its usual seats as before.

“What is left for Bersatu? It has no direction, nowhere to land. If there is an election, not likely Bersatu will survive. We will lose badly.”

He said members should reflect on why Bersatu was formed, and why they joined it.

“We started Bersatu not as a multiracial party but as a party for the Malays and Bumiputera to challenge Umno.

“Because there is no more Umno. Umno’s struggle now is just to save Najib.” – May 9, 2020.