Tuan Ibrahim: Call for Parliamentary dissolution overwrote SD support for Muhyiddin

PETALING JAYA: PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (pic) clarifies that the statutory declaration in support of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was signed 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).

However, 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.

Tuan Ibrahim's clarification comes after his earlier claim that PAS and Umno had signed a SD to support Muhyiddin as prime minister was denied by PAS secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan via a tweet.

"PAS and Umno's decision is for Parliament to be dissolved. Any official statement from PAS will only come from the president or the secretary-general, in writing," Takiyuddin tweeted.

The political crisis, which unfolded over the weekend, saw the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan coalition due to the exit of 26 Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia MPs and 11 PKR MPs.

Dr Mahathir, who resigned and then appointed as interim Prime Minister on Monday (Feb 24), had said on Wednesday (Feb 26) in a national televised address that he hopes to lead a non-partisan administration which prioritises national interest.

The interim Prime Minister had said,"rightly or wrongly, politics and political parties must be set aside for the time being".

The remaining parties in Pakatan – PKR, DAP and Amanah – meanwhile, said on Wednesday that it had nominated Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as its candidate for prime minister after Dr Mahathir failed to turn up for a presidential council meeting on Tuesday (Feb 25).

In a press conference on Tuesday, Barisan and PAS had called for the dissolution of Parliament and a snap election to be called due to the current political uncertainty in the country.

Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa said the power to decide should be returned to the people.

"The people's mandate should not be neglected. We ask that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to allow for Parliament to be dissolved," he had said.