PETALING JAYA: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has given his backing to PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang’s push to hold an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of the Perikatan Nasional to pick a new chairman for the coalition.
“I agree with Abdul Hadi that a meeting of Perikatan supreme council must be called as soon as possible. I am told that Perikatan deputy secretary general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan will be issuing an invitation to all members of the supreme council with a date set (for the EGM).
“I am looking forward to it. The supreme council must accept my resignation effective Jan 1 and a new chairman must be elected in accordance with the constitution,” he told The Star.
Earlier yesterday, Abdul Hadi said Perikatan should not delay in picking a new chairman to ensure a proper leadership transition
“I called for an EGM due to the urgency to ensure clarity and a smooth transition process, following the vacancy of the Perikatan chairmanship,” he said when contacted.
A letter dated Jan 10 signed by him was sent out to all Perikatan supreme council members, stating that an EGM should be called immediately to address Muhyiddin’s move to step down.
However, a top Bersatu leader questioned Abdul Hadi’s push for the EGM.
“Is he that eager for PAS to take over?” he asked.
The leader, who declined to be named, pointed out that Abdul Hadi had indicated that he did not want to take over the post.
“So why the rush to accept Muhyiddin’s resignation?”
Several Perikatan leaders had said that Muhyiddin’s resignation will only be finalised once it has been accepted in a formal meeting. Muhyiddin, who remains Bersatu president, was pressed to quit following the debacle over the Perlis mentri besar issue last month, which saw Mohd Shukri Ramli of PAS quitting the post on “health reasons”.
He was replaced by Abu Bakar Hamzah of Bersatu. PAS leaders have viewed this as a betrayal by Bersatu to seize the MB post.
