Zahid says only 105 state assemblymen support Muhyiddin as PM

The Umno president said 10 MPs had signed two separate statutory declarations – one in support of Barisan Nasional and another in support of the PN chairman.

(FMT) – Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi insisted that Muhyiddin did not have the majority of MPs’ support to become prime minister after the 15th general election, despite his claim to have obtained 115 statutory declarations.

Zahid revealed that 10 MPs had signed two statutory declarations each, one in support of Barisan Nasional and the other in support of the PN chairman, and that he was a “living witness” of these signed statutory declarations.

He told reporters on the sidelines of the Umno general assembly today that the signing of two statutory declarations in favour of different coalitions meant that Muhyiddin did not have enough majority to form the government.

“So, in fact, there are only 105 SDs (supporting Muhyiddin). 105 SDs are not enough to form a government.”

Yesterday, Muhyiddin submitted to the police legal declarations from 115 MPs who allegedly expressed support for him to become prime minister after the 15th general election ended in a hung parliament.

It was among the documents he handed over to the police who were questioning him over a speech he made during the Nyangiri by-election campaign.

In a statement to the media, the Bersatu president said the party had submitted 114 statements to the National Palace before the deadline of 2pm on November 21, 2022, and submitted an additional statement the next day.

The former prime minister is under investigation for allegedly touching on the sensitive issues of “3Rs” (race, religion and royalty) in his speeches.

In his speech, he questioned why the former King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah did not invite him to be the prime minister after the 15th general election.

He said he had secured a simple majority and had the support of enough lawmakers to form a government.

He later defended his speech, saying it was not intended to insult the monarchy or incite the public but was factual.

Besides the multiple police reports filed against him, Muhyiddin was also rebuked by Pahang King Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah for defaming the former king.