UMNO MPs will be allowed to vote according to their conscience in a confidence vote against Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, said Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“Our first decision is to let MPs decide for themselves when a vote is taken in Parliament,” said the Umno president in a leaked one-minute-and-22-second video.

“This can be for a vote to support or not support if a confidence vote is taken,” said Zahid.

He said he had conveyed the decision to the Agong.

The video is alleged to be a screen recording of the online Umno Supreme Council meeting that took place on yesterday night.

In the video, Zahid said the Supreme Council had also decided to withdraw support for Muhyiddin and to delay party elections for all levels for 18 months.

In another audio clip, which was four-minutes-and-31-seconds long, Zahid is heard telling Supreme Council members about his meetings recently.

“Except for Zahidi Zainal Abidin (Padang Besar MP), I have met with all the Supreme Council members personally.

“I did not meet Zahidi as I take it that he doesn’t agree (with the decision to withdraw support from Muhyiddin) based on his statements to the media,” said Zahid.

He said that he had also met Supreme Council members Khaidhirah Abu Zahar and Tajuddin Rahman.

“Khaidhirah asked to be exempted as she does not support and Tajuddin asked to KIV or defer and I take it as a vote against.”

Zahid said two other Supreme Council members had agreed to what was decided at the Umno general assembly in March and the Supreme Council meeting on Wednesday, but questioned the timing of their withdrawal of support from Muhyiddin.

“As such, out of 56 Supreme Council members, 35 have given their unconditional support, while another 15 gave conditional support.”

Under that basis, Zahid said Umno had decided to let MPs vote according to their conscience and decide for themselves if they want to withdraw support for Muhyiddin.

In addition, Zahid said 52 out of 56 Supreme Council members agreed to postpone party elections. – July 8, 2021.