The present Federal government is ‘tidak ada’ (does not exist) since the ruling coalition had never been registered as an official political pact, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.
Supporting his claims by referring to several news reports, the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) chairman said Umno had never promised to enter into a coalition with Bersatu.
“They (Umno) only supported (Tan Sri) Muhyiddin (Yassin) to become the prime minister in order to oust (the former) Pakatan Harapan (federal government).
“The support endorsed by the party is only limited towards an individual. Umno has a different position, in which, the party was never in Perikatan Nasional (PN) and the coalition as such had never existed…it was never registered as a political pact.
“Hence, I am puzzled as to what amounts to Muhyiddin’s government. If it is a PN government, there no such thing as a PN government,” said Dr Mahathir in a 15-minute video clip uploaded on his official Facebook account.
The clip was published to commemorate the second anniversary of Pakatan Harapan’s May 9 polls victory, which saw the pact toppling Barisan Nasional during the 14th general election.
Dr Mahathir also accused the government under Muhyiddin’s leadership as having become a semi-dictatorship administration.
This followed the government’s decision to only organise the upcoming Parliamentary sitting only for a day.
“I am of the opinion that democracy in the country is eroding.
“Democracy is when the rakyat was able to determine their fate by voting in elected representatives, who will then decide if an individual is capable to be the prime minister or otherwise.
“With the absence of the sitting, the House is unable to determine the position of Muhyiddin (if he commanded the majority support to become the prime minister or otherwise).
“This is not democratic,” said Dr Mahathir referring to the parliamentary sitting on May 18.
He also claimed that Bersatu is divided into two factions and that the party is ‘terkontang kanting’ (in shambles) and it had deviated from its foundation.
“In the next election, Umno will contest in constituencies belonging to them, including seats currently held by Bersatu as well as those represented by former Umno leaders who quit the party,” he cautioned. – NST