Ahmad Zahid says an adequate number of SDs have been presented to the King, which could nullify the validity of Muhyiddin’s position as PM

by SHAHEERA AZNAM SHAH & NUR HANANI AZMAN / pic by BERNAMA

UMNO has withdrawn its support for the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government as a display of loyalty to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party is also demanding the resignation of Prime Minister (PM) Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (picture) for his failure to abide by the King’s wishes to table the revocation of the Emergency Ordinances (EOs).

“Umno has chosen to take a stand in favour of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and will not defend the government led by Mahiaddin Md Yasin, which has failed in the eyes of the people.

“To show the party’s undivided loyalty to Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Supreme Council has unanimously agreed to withdraw support for the PN government and Mahiaddin as the PM,” Ahmad Zahid said in a virtual media conference after the Supreme Council’s emergency meeting yesterday.

He said Muhyiddin has to take responsibility for the failure to table and debate the EOs revocation.

“The PM’s latest statement issued (yesterday) does not justify the lawlessness of the government’s action which has clearly contradicted the King’s order.

“The government also has ridiculed the King, who has several times ordered for all EOs to be debated at the Parliament before Aug 1 and not in September, in line with Article 150 (3) of the Federal Constitution,” Ahmad Zahid added.

Earlier yesterday, Muhyiddin said a motion to debate the EOs will be tabled at the Parliament when it convenes for the fourth session of the 14th Parliament in September.

He added that with the Proclamation of Emergency ended on Aug 1, the revocation of the EOs is no longer a valid matter to be deliberated.

The PN-led government and the Palace have reached an impasse after both parties maintain their respective stance over the EOs revocation.

On July 27, a day after Law Minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan told the Dewan Rakyat that the government had decided to revoke all the six EOs during a Cabinet meeting, the PM’s Office said the PM and Attorney General had an audience with the King to explain the proposal.

A statement issued by the Palace revealed that Yang di-Pertuan Agong did not consent to the revocation of the six EOs, which were done without a debate in Parliament but through a Cabinet meeting on July 21.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said an adequate number of statutory declarations (SDs) have been signed by the party’s MPs who have retracted their support for the PM.

He added that the SDs have been presented to the King in a recent audience, which could nullify the validity of Muhyiddin’s position as the leader of the country.

Among other politicians who were present at the media conference were Umno VP Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Pekan MP Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak, Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Parit MP Datuk Mohd Nizar Zakaria, Baling MP Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, Tanjung Karang MP Tan Sri Noh Omar, Jerantut MP Datuk Ahmad Nazlan Idris, Machang MP Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub, Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Cameron Highland MP Ramli Mohd Nor and Pontian MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.

Separately, Lenggong MP Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah announced his resignation as the energy and natural resources minister in light of the party’s decision.

Shamsul said as an Umno member who is loyal to the party, he takes into account some of the party’s decision and stances.

“My focus now is on duties as an MP for Lenggong and strengthening Umno in facing the challenging political situation,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Shamsul Anuar thanked Muhyiddin for appointing him to the Cabinet and Umno’s leadership whom he believed proposed him to become the federal minister.

On March 28, Shamsul Anuar had said he is ready to quit his post if that was the decision made by his party.