Bersih 2.0 reiterates stand against ‘backdoor govt’

KUALA LUMPUR: Bersih 2.0 has reiterated its stand against a government which is formed midterm that rejects the mandate of the people given to the Pakatan Harapan government.

Following Istana Negara’s announcement that Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will be appointed the eighth Prime Minister, Bersih 2.0 chairman Thomas Fann said the group has been consistent with its rejection of any “backdoor” government.

“To us, this is undemocratic and a betrayal of the people’s trust in the government they voted for, ” he said.

The candidacy of Muhyiddin to be premier has the support of Barisan Nasional, PAS and other parties.

Fann argued that Muhyiddin does not have the legitimacy to be the Prime Minister because his power base comes from the very leaders who were rejected by the people in the last general election, alluding to Umno.

He added that Muhyiddin’s appointment could still be challenged in Parliament during the sitting on March 9, through a motion of no confidence.

Earlier yesterday, Bersih 2.0 had pledged support for a government led by interim Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad with the condition that the people’s mandate in the 14th general election must be upheld in the formation of the next government for the remaining term.