Simpang Renggam MP Maszlee Malik said he could not bear to be in the company of Umno leaders at Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s house on Saturday.
The meeting with Umno leaders to plan a new government made him question his principles.
“After sitting with Umno leaders who want to form a government, my heart grew heavy. Very heavy.
“Some of them are still embroiled in corruption allegations, including at the Education Ministry which I used to lead and which I had cleaned up after them.
“I asked myself, am I ready to accept them? Make them leaders of the country when they have been rejected by the people and when some of them are facing trial?” Maszlee said in a statement on his Facebook page yesterday.
He said he received calls from family, friends and voters in his constituency urging him not to betray their vote in 2018.
He said he had consulted those close to him and sought divine inspiration before deciding at 4pm on Saturday, before the Agong announced his decision.
“I had to choose between loyalty and principles, and I chose what is more important, which is to return to my supporters, family, voters and comrades in this fight.
“Returning to our principles is the true battle. They have reminded me why I am in politics and why Simpang Renggam voted for me.”
Maszlee added that he had always been supportive of Muhyiddin and had confidence in him as the nation’s leader, but “not to the point of disappointing voters who voted in the 14th general election to oust the kleptocratic regime of Umno-BN”.
“This decision is final. National interest is above political interest,” said Maszlee.
He was among the handful of Bersatu MPs who eventually backed Dr Mahathir Mohamad to be prime minister instead of Muhyiddin.
The bulk of Bersatu MPs joined forces with Umno, PAS, Gabungang Parti Sarawak and a host of smaller parties to back Muhyiddin.