UMNO’S proposal for an interim prime minister to replace Muhyiddin Yassin cannot move forward unless the leader resigns, analysts said.

The Umno Supreme Council’s decision to withdraw support for Muhyiddin and for an interim leader to take his place until the Covid-19 pandemic is brought under control remains a mere suggestion without a clear pathway.

Ilham Centre’s Hisommudin Bakar said the situation could only move forward if Muhyiddin resigns. And even then, parties omay find it difficult to agree on a candidate to replace him.

“Now we are at a deadlock. Who can replace Muhyiddin? Will Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah be able to gather support from Umno and the opposition? Will Anwar Ibrahim be able to convince Umno to work with PKR and DAP?

“What about Pejuang, Warisan and Muda? Can they agree on who will be the interim PM?

“Perikatan Nasional (PN) has lost the majority now that Umno has decided to break ties. What needs to be done now is the PM must resign. Until he resigns, we will be at a deadlock,” Hisomuddin said.

University Malaya Prof Awang Azman Awang Pawi said the matter should be brought to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“The king will be able to end the uncertainty just like how His Majesty did after Dr Mahathir Mohamad resigned as Pakatan Harapan’s PM (in February last year).

“The Agong can call up the party presidents and the MPs to ask who they would choose to be the interim PM. From there, a consensus can be reached.

“As for Muhyiddin, if he still wants to be the PM, he needs to show proof that he has the support of the MPs. If not, he has to resign. The proof must come through Parliament and not by way of statutory declaration. He must show it in Pparliament,” Awang Azman said.

Muhyiddin has yet to respond to the Umno move. The PM’s Office did not respond to requests for comment.

Attorney-General Idrus Harun issued a statement that Muhyiddin and his cabinet remained in power until and unless another MP could prove that he or she had the support of the majority in the Dewan Rakyat.

The Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which is led by Umno, has the largest bloc of MPs in the PN government. Umno has 38, MCA two, and MIC and PBRS one each.

If BN were to follow Umno’s lead, Muhyiddin would be left with only 73 MPs backing him.

However, Umno is known to be split over support for the Bersatu president. Party leaders who want to end ties with Muhyiddin and PN include president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former PM Najib Razak, while party members who hold cabinet positions wish to keep those ties.

There are nine Umno ministers in Muhyiddin’s cabinet. Eight more party members serve as deputy ministers.

Iman Research programme director Badrul Hisham Ismail said given the fractionated state of the opposition, it will be hard for the parties to agree on who would be the interim prime minister.

“Muhyiddin is the PM until he resigns. Can the likes of Umno, PKR, DAP, PAS and other parties agree on who will become the interim PM? 

“No one can replace Muhyiddin because there is no clear majority.”

Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has told a Malay news portal that he is up for the job.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia senior lecturer Dr Mazlan Ali said the Kelantan prince is best suited for the post being neither pro-PN nor pro-Pakatan Harapan.

“If Anwar were to be suggested as the interim PM candidate, Umno and PAS would surely object. If it’s Dr Mahathir, PKR will not agree. Zahid has many court cases. The only man with a clean record is Ku Li,” said Mazlan. – July 9, 2021.