Bersatu, Azmin's MPs support Muhyiddin as PM, says Redzuan Yusof

PETALING JAYA: All 26 Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) MPs and 11 independent MPs aligned with sacked PKR leader Datuk Seri Azmin Ali will support Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as the prime minister candidate.

This was revealed by Bersatu supreme council member Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof during a meeting at Muhyiddin’s house in Bukit Damansara on Feb 27.

He said the decision was made after Muhyiddin met interim Prime Minister and party chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at his office in Putrajaya earlier.

“Yes, we are supporting Muhyiddin. This includes the 11 MPs from Azmin, ” said the Alor Gajah MP to reporters when met outside of Muhyiddin’s house.

Also present with Redzuan at the meeting was former PKR leader Zuraida Kamaruddin and Azmin’s political secretary, Hilman Idham.

Earlier on Thursday (Feb 27), Dr Mahathir told reporters that he would accept Muhyiddin as the prime minister candidate, if he was able to garner enough support from MPs.

“Muhyiddin might become a candidate. If everyone chooses him, I’m okay. If everyone chooses him, he can form his cabinet, ” said Dr Mahathir after announcing the economic stimulus package at the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya.

Dr Mahathir, who declared that he would only accept leaders who had left Umno, described Muhyiddin as one who was more accepting of Opposition leaders.

“I will not accept Umno, but I will accept those who leave Umno. But Muhyiddin is ready to accept them. Whomever wins, I will accept him to be the prime minister, ” Dr Mahathir was quoted as saying.

Earlier, PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man also said a statutory declaration in support of Muhyiddin to be premier was signed by the Muafakat Nasional pact, but this was before the decision to call for Parliament to be dissolved.

"We discussed a few names as a proposal to solve the current (political) turmoil," he said in a text message to The Star on Thursday (Feb 27).

Tuan Ibrahim said Muafakat Nasional (which comprises Umno and PAS) eventually decided to call for Parliament to be dissolved.

"Muafakat Nasional finally decided that the dissolution of Parliament is the best solution," said Tuan Ibrahim.