We have formed this govt and I want Dr Mahathir to endorse this govt, says the PM

by ALIFAH ZAINUDDIN / pic by MUHD AMIN NAHARUL

PRIME Minister (PM) Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has offered to meet his predecessor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad with no preconditions, saying he would meet the latter “any time and any day”.

Muhyiddin’s conciliatory approach comes a week after he wrote to Dr Mahathir seeking for forgiveness if he had hurt the former PM’s feelings.

“We have formed this government and I want Dr Mahathir to endorse this government. This is the government for the people. It is legal and it is constitutional,” he told a media conference after chairing his first Cabinet meeting in Putrajaya yesterday.

When asked if he would be willing to reconcile with Dr Mahathir, Muhyiddin said: “I am ready to meet any time, any place, anywhere, for the sake of the country.”

In a recent interview with Sinar Harian, Dr Mahathir said he expects Muhyiddin’s new Cabinet to last until the next general election.

The former PM said a vote of no confidence against Muhyiddin will not succeed after the latter took people to his side.

“I find that some of those who used to be my supporters have now been appointed ministers and they have moved to that side. We had more than 114 seats but now that has become less.

“Of course, when he offers others to be ministers, it would be difficult for people to refuse. I cannot offer anything,” Dr Mahathir said in the interview.

Muhyiddin said there is no question about his leadership and he is confident that he has majority support from MPs. He has also ruled out any possibility of a snap election.

Muhyiddin also appealed for the public to give his administration a chance, asserting that the Cabinet he picked will strive to give its best.

“Come on, give us a chance lah. There is a long way to go but of course it is important. We will know what to do to make sure we don’t just last for the next three years.

“Hopefully, if we do well and the public believes that this is a government that can help them, we will plan properly for the next election. But it is a bit too early to say,” he said.

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin said while the four senior ministers he appointed are all equal in rank, it has been agreed that International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali will chair Cabinet meetings whenever he is absent.

“In my absence, Azmin will chair my Cabinet. If Azmin is absent, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob will chair,” he said.