Muhy urges supporters not to undermine Umno, nation
Published on: Thursday, July 30, 2015
Kuala Lumpur: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Wednesday advised his supporters against resorting to any action that can undermine the party and country. The former Deputy Prime Minister said he appreciated the expression of support for him from all quarters, including netizens, and hoped that they would place national interest above everything else. "I am able to feel their frustration and disappointment but my advice to them is to give priority to national interest," he told reporters at his residence here.
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Commenting on his being dropped from the Cabinet, Muhyiddin said he was informed by the Prime Minister's Office to see Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at 11am on Tuesday. He said he was in Bandar Sri Sendayan, Negeri Sembilan, then to open a private school. "I was only able to meet him (Najib) at 12.15pm. I asked why he wanted to see me, whether it had to do with a Cabinet reshuffle, and he nodded. "I asked whether he had anything to say to me which he had difficulty in saying. I asked whether this meant that I was no longer on the (Cabinet) list, and he nodded, and I said thank you," he said. Muhyiddin said he accepted the decision because it was the prerogative of the Prime Minister. "That is his (Najib's) right. As an experienced politician, I cannot deny that fact. I accept that," he said.
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Muhyiddin said he was able to sleep Tuesday night though at a late hour because he had many visitors, among them Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.The visitors came to express their sympathies, not to discuss any plot against the Government, he said.
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In a Cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday, Najib dropped Muhyiddin from the Cabinet and appointed Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as the Deputy Prime Minister. Muhyiddin pledged to remain loyal to the party's struggle and carry out the responsibilities entrusted on him with the aim of bringing back the confidence of Malays to the party.Muhyiddin, who has been vocal over the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), said not being the Deputy Prime Minister was not an obstacle for him to carry out his duties in the party and for the country."Even when I was the Deputy Prime Minister I had carried out my duties as the Umno Deputy President to my best ability, for the good of the party, and unity among the Malays so that the people can continue supporting us," he said.Muhyiddin added that investigations into 1MDB must continue despite the changes in Cabinet, the Public Accounts Committee and the Attorney-General's post."The investigations must and will continue as this concerns the people and they have a right to know."I hope the new AG will not only continue the investigation thoroughly but also expedite it to bring closure for the people in this matter," he said."I have just been dropped from the Cabinet, give me some time and space to regain my composure and continue my responsibilities. What I am going to do next is important for my status as the Umno Deputy President and BN Deputy President," he said.Asked if he can continue working with Najibafter Najib's decision to drop him from the Cabinet, Muhyiddin said based on the constitution of the party, the deputy president will assist the party president and the Umno Supreme Council to strengthen the party.Over weekend, during a speech at the Cheras Umno division meeting, Muhyiddin had said Najib must explain claims in The Wall Street Journal reports about US$700 million (RM2.67 billion) deposited into the Prime Minister's personal accounts and also the RM42 billion debt accumulated by 1MDB. Many feel his outburst had caused him the Deputy Prime Minister's post."As the deputy president, the main problem is not me but the future of the party and the people. I must not worry about what happened to me. I guess the people will also want to see us to the right thing for the country," he said.Asked if he would join former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to criticise the Government, Muhyiddin said joining the former premier or not was not important."The former Prime Minister or the views of former leaders cannot be overlooked because he (Mahathir) is still active and contributing ideas," he said. Asked about the possibility that he may not be invited for Umno division meetings throughout the country, Muhyiddin said such decisions were the prerogative of the divisions."It is still early, many people are still shocked but once the situation calms down, I feel they will understand that I need to carry out my duties as the deputy president effectively," he said.Muhyiddin, who thanked Johor Umno for stating that there would be no restriction in the State for him to carry out his duties, said he was also willing to help any Umno division that required assistance.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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