KUALA LUMPUR – Bersatu information chief Datuk Razali Idris has dismissed challenges from Umno figures urging Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to publicly reveal the non-PN MPs who allegedly supported his bid to become prime minister following the 2022 general election.
Razali referenced “challenges” issued by Umno’s Usukan assemblyman Datuk Salleh Said Keruak and the party’s supreme council member Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi, who both said there should be public confirmation from the MPs to verify their statutory declarations (SDs).
“There is no need for all this talk, you know very well who they are. The ones threatening them are from your side as well,” Razali said in a Facebook post today.
He added that since Muhyiddin had submitted proof of the SDs to the police, all 115 MPs who had provided the written support will become witnesses if the case is brought to court.
“They can’t lie in court. They’ve signed sworn declarations. More is expected to come to light.”
Razali also warned Salleh and Puad not to push Muhyiddin into a corner, saying: “His only choice left then will be to fight back. You would do the same if you were in his position.”
Yesterday, Muhyiddin handed over documents to police to substantiate his claim of having sufficient support from MPs to form a government following the 15th general election (GE15).
The documents submitted include a letter dated November 21, 2022, from the senior private secretary of the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Datuk Nizam Mohd Alin, which allegedly confirms the receipt of 115 SDs endorsing Muhyiddin as prime minister.
The Bersatu president also provided the 115 SDs themselves.
Earlier today, Puad cautioned that without public, verbal confirmation from non-PN MPs who allegedly provided the SDs, the declarations could be used to mislead the public, who do not know the full context.
Similarly, Salleh previously claimed that Muhyiddin would not dare to name the 115 MPs as the number is his own mere assumption, adding that the former prime minister’s credibility would be at risk if any of the lawmakers were to deny the claim.
Muhyiddin’s speech delivered while campaigning for the Nenggiri by-election courted controversy after the public and political quarters accused him of touching on 3R (race, religion, and royalty) issues, causing police reports to be filed against him nationwide.
In his speech, Muhyiddin reportedly questioned the responsibilities and role of the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah as he expressed his grievances over not being appointed prime minister after GE15.
Muhyiddin has since defended his “factual” speech as one that had no intention of insulting the former king, asserting that he believes his statement did not violate any of the nation’s laws. – August 22, 2024