THE Umno Supreme Council will decide on its position tonight on the future of Muhyiddin Yassin and its support for the Perikatan Nasional government, some of its lawmakers said today.

Former prime minister and Pekan MP Najib Razak said Barisan Nasional’s meeting today discussed several matters in relation to the country’s political development.

“We have not yet decided on anything. We were just gathering opinion and feedback from BN MPs on our stand and direction. 

“However, the final decision will be made at tonight’s meeting,” he told reporters as he left the Putra World Trade Centre today.

Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said Umno had discussed cooperation with the prime minister but the party will make a final decision on it tonight.

“They will decide tonight. Usually everyone will abide by it,” he said.

The council is set to meet at 8.30pm tonight.

As for Padang Besar MP Zahidi Zainul Abidin, he said BN MPs had discussed withdrawing support for Muhyiddin.

“We did discuss withdrawing support for Muhyiddin. There were other views also. But the majority view was no Anwar, no DAP,” he said, referring to the PKR leader who had said he had the numbers to form a federal government.

The party has made it clear it will never form a government with the DAP.

“In the current situation there were voices among the MPs who said we should continue to engage Muhyiddin,” he said.

Sembrong MP Hishammuddin Hussein said the meeting discussed the best way for the party to move forward in the current situation. 

“The meeting was good…but there was no decision on Muhyiddin quitting. We discussed on how to move forward. 

“We have to find a way. Whatever the decision, it is going to be made for the good of the people and the country,” the foreign minister said.

Earlier today, Muhyiddin met political party chiefs at his office but Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was absent.

BN counts 43 MPs among its ranks, with Umno accounting for 39 of them. The rest are from MCA (2), MIC (1) and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (1).

Muhyiddin’s cabinet sought royal consent to take emergency powers and suspend the legislature, using escalating Covid-19 infection numbers as its justification.

Yesterday, the king rejected the request, saying all politicians should come together to support Budget 2021 and combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

Zahid yesterday panned Muhyiddin for seeking emergency rule without discussing or getting a consensus from other parties in the ruling coalition.

“This episode clearly teaches us that implementation of any major steps that is to be taken by the government requires a process of deliberation and consensus of all parties,” the former deputy prime minister had said.

“Therefore, it is appropriate to start a national reconciliation initiative that includes a political, economic, social and security agenda. – October 26, 2020.