Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has a majority – 113 Members of Parliament (MP) – supporting him as the 8th Prime Minister.
Dr Mahathir said he, as the chairman of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) along with five other party MPs, no longer support Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Dr Mahathir, who is Langkawi MP, said this showed that the total support (from Bersatu) presented by Muhyiddin to the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong was inaccurate.
He said the rival faction’s declaration earlier today about the number of MPs supporting Muhyiddin could not have the 112 names needed to form a government
The six Bersatu MPs who had signed the statutory declaration to not support Muhyiddin are Dr Mahathir himself, Jerlun MP Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, Muar MP Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman, Kubang Pasu MP Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah, Simpang Renggam MP Maszlee Malik and Kuala Pilah MP Syazlee Shith.
“The total number of MPs who support me as the 8th Prime Minister in the form of statutory declarations and official letters from party chiefs will be presented by me to the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.
“I have prepared a letter to be sent to the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong that explains my position as well as the support given to me.
“I hope the King will accept my letter and my explanation,” said Dr Mahathir in a statement last night.
Among the notable signees are Keningau MP Jeffrey Kitingan and Richard Riot (Serian) who are listed under PKR, Gabungan Bersatu Sabah’s Maximus Ongkili (Kota Marudu), independents Baru Bian (Selangau), Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), and Masir Kujat (Sri Aman).
The statement was released after the PH emergency presidential council meeting at Yayasan Al-Bukhary.
Dr Mahathir, who exited the building at about 10.25pm, did not stop for reporters who had been waiting since 4pm.
Among PH leaders seen leaving were Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Datuk Liew Vui Keong, Datuk Salahuddin Ayub, Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng, Fahmi Fadzil, M Kulasegaran and Mohamad Sabu. Meanwhile, Salahuddin, who is Parti Amanah Negara deputy president, said all 114 MPs will convene at Yayasan Al-Bukhary at 9am on Sunday.
“We will do it peacefully and we do not want any chaos. We just want to convey that the numbers (presented by Perikatan Nasional) were misleading and inaccurate.
In a later development, Syed Abu Hussin and Masir Kujat denied supporting Dr Mahathir.
“I deny it,” Syed Abu Hussin was quoted saying, adding that he had never signed a statutory declaration supporting the interim prime minister.
Instead he said, he has signed an SD supporting Muhyiddin Yassin.
Syed Abu Hussin furnished a photo of him presenting the SD to Muhyiddin with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi present.
The photo is understood to have been taken yesterday morning.
Masir, meanwhile, released a video similarly denying supporting Mahathir.
“I support Muhyiddin as prime minister,” Masir said.
The two MPs’ denial brings the number of lawmakers backing Mahathir down to 113.
The original list did not include PKR’s Hulu Selangor MP June Leow. This was rectified at 11.49pm.
