Muhyiddin only had 105 SDs backing him as PM, says Zahid

The Umno president says there were 10 MPs who signed two statutory declarations each – one backing BN and the other supporting the PN chairman.

(FMT) – Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi insists that Muhyiddin Yassin did not command the majority support of MPs to be appointed prime minister after the 15th general election despite the Bersatu president claiming he obtained 115 statutory declarations.

Zahid revealed that 10 MPs had signed two SDs each – one backing Barisan Nasional and the other supporting the Perikatan Nasional chairman – and that he was a “living witness” to these signed SDs.

Because two SDs were signed backing different coalitions, it meant that Muhyiddin did not have the sufficient majority to form a government, he told reporters on the sidelines of the Umno general assembly here today.

“So, in fact, there were only 105 SDs (in support of Muhyiddin). And 105 SDs are not enough to form the government.”

Yesterday, Muhyiddin submitted SDs from 115 MPs, purportedly backing him as the prime minister after GE15 ended in a hung Parliament, to police.

It was among the documents he handed over to the police who had questioned him about a speech he made during the Nenggiri by-election campaign.

In a statement to the media, the Bersatu president said 114 declarations had been submitted to Istana Negara on Nov 21, 2022, before a 2pm deadline set by the palace, and an additional declaration was submitted the following day.

The former prime minister is being investigated over the speech for allegedly touching on sensitive issues related to the 3Rs (race, religion and royalty).

In the speech, he questioned why he was not invited by the former king, Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, to become the prime minister after GE15.

He said he had obtained a simple majority and had the backing of enough MPs to form the government.

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

In addition to a number of police reports lodged against him. Muhyiddin received a rebuke from the Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah, for disparaging the former king.