PETALING JAYA: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s resignation as Perikatan Nasional chairman remains an open-ended question with Bersatu’s political bureau keeping mum over their leader’s fate.
Those who attended the political bureau meeting on Thursday declined to talk about it, merely saying that the Perikatan supreme council will make a decision in its next meeting.
However, a Bersatu leader, said that party leaders who are part of Perikatan’s supreme council intend to reject Muhyiddin’s resignation in their next meeting.
“We believe that Bersatu should still lead Perikatan and Muhyiddin is the best person for now. Even though PAS is eager to take on the post, it is not the time for PAS to lead the coalition,” said the leader, who did not want to be named.
He said the resignation would only be official once it is accepted by the supreme council, and until then, Muhyiddin is still the chairman.
Bersatu’s appeals board head Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun, when contacted, explained that, “A resignation announcement will not be official if the supreme council rejects it. Clause 8 (1)(b) of the constitution states that the resignation of the coalition chairman is only effective upon acceptance by the supreme council.”
On Dec 30, Muhyiddin announced that he had tendered his resignation as the coalition chairman following the Perlis mentri besar upheaval.
The calls for Muhyiddin to quit came after the fallout between PAS and Bersatu due to the retraction of support for then Perlis mentri besar Mohd Shukri Ramli.
Eight state assemblymen – five from Bersatu and three from PAS – signed declarations retracting their support for Mohd Shukri on Dec 24.
Mohd Shukri of PAS subsequently stepped down on Dec 26, citing health reasons.
He was replaced by Abu Bakar Hamzah of Bersatu.
