A provision under the agreement states that the document cannot be republished in any form and can only be kept for the reference of both parties.
According to Marzuki Mohamad, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin entered into an agreement in August last year over the position of deputy prime minister.
“I want to confirm the agreement exists.
“It was signed by Muhyiddin and the prime minister (Ismail Sabri) last Aug 17, witnessed by a minister from Bersatu and another minister from Umno,” Marzuki said in a statement today.
He also said he was personally involved in the agreement as private secretary to Muhyiddin as then prime minister.
Bersatu information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan reportedly claimed that Annuar Musa was one of the witnesses.
Earlier this month, Muhyiddin said he met Ismail Sabri to discuss new cabinet appointments for Bersatu following Plantation and Commodities Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin’s move to Parti Bangsa Malaysia.
The Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairperson had revealed his requests to the prime minister were made based on their prior agreement.
Following that, Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan denied the existence of an agreement and questioned Muhyiddin’s motives in making the claim.
Other Bersatu and PN leaders also weighed in, including PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang who yesterday insisted there was no such agreement and need to appoint a deputy prime minister as demanded by Bersatu.
Marzuki claimed that there were reasons why the agreement was never made public.
“A provision under this agreement states that the document cannot be republished in any form.
“It can only be kept for the reference of both parties,” Muhyiddin’s former secretary said.