MUHYIDDIN Yassin will have an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong before noon on Monday and tender his resignation as prime minister, said a source.

The Malaysian Insight understands Muhyiddin’s decision comes after opposition parties rejected his offer of seven reforms in exchange for their support during a confidence motion on the prime minister’s leadership.
 
The Prime Minister announced the offer yesterday during a live telecast.

“Tan Sri (Muhyiddin) has made the decision,” said a source familiar with the development in Putrajaya over the weekend.
 
The source said Muhyiddin’s decision was final.

Muhyiddin’s support in parliament fell last week when Umno said 14 of its lawmakers were withdrawing support for the beleaguered prime minister, while two Umno ministers quit the cabinet.
 
According to the Federal Constitution, a prime minister who no longer enjoys the confidence of the majority in parliament has two choices.
 
He could either ask the King to dissolve parliament or resign as prime minister.

Yesterday, Muhyiddin offered seven reforms in exchange for support from the opposition to keep his administration in office after losing his majority.

Among them are capping the Prime Minister’s term in office to two terms, strengthening the various parliamentary selection committees and bringing down the voting age to 18.
  
The offer was made ahead of the confidence vote scheduled for September 7.
 
Muhyiddin is believed to only have 100 lawmakers on his side in the 220-member parliament.

However, his attempt to lure the opposition failed as opposition lawmakers in statements repeatedly rejected the offer.

Another source told The Malaysian Insight that there were still efforts to save Muhyiddin’s minority government.

“However, if he reaches a dead end in his efforts, he will quit on Monday,” said the source, who is close to a senior minister.

Ahead of his decision, Muhyiddin is expected to meet the Bersatu supreme council and convey his decision.

Earlier today, several senior Bersatu members and Ministers were seen leaving the Prime Minister’s residence in Damansara after a management committee meeting. 

Among them were Minister of International Trade and Industry Mohamed Azmin Ali, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Mohd Harun, and Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal.
 
The newly minted special adviser to the prime minister Ahmad Faizal Azumu said the meeting was on party matters. He refused to comment further.
 
“A statement will be issued by the party later today,” said the Bersatu deputy president as he left the prime minister’s residence at 5.45 pm. 

The media had gathered outside the residence as rumours swirled that the prime minister is set to quit his position and hand over power to his deputy, Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

However, Ismail’s aide said there was no plan to hand over power as speculated.

Meanwhile, three ministers’ officers said they were preparing to vacate their offices if the prime minister quit. – August 14, 2021.