Nazri withdraws support for Muhyiddin, PN govt
Former Umno supreme council member Nazri Aziz has joined the ranks of Umno MPs to withdraw support for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
The Padang Rengas MP made the announcement during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.
Nazri said his decision was made based on the mandate from Padang Rengas Umno as well as the recent stand taken by the party's supreme council members.
"Based on the mandate given to me by my division - Padang Rengas - and the supreme council's stand, I today announce that, I, Nazri Aziz, Padang Rengas Umno chief and Padang Rengas MP, formally withdraw support for the leadership of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and the current government," he said.
Nazri's decision announced several hours after Muhyiddin had declared a national state of emergency, rendered PN as a minority government with 109 MPs out 222 in Parliament, including two vacancies that must be filled.
"With my withdrawal of support for Muhyiddin, that means today the government is left with 109 MPs...they no longer hold a majority," he said.
Despite his decision, Nazri insisted he is not pressuring for polls until the Covid-19 pandemic can be controlled.
Nazri also said he had deliberated on his decision and believed it to be the best for Umno.
He said it would be impossible for delegates at the Umno general assembly to reject a motion proposed by the grassroots and accepted at the supreme council level.
"PAU (Umno general assembly) is just to formalise the motion (to break ties with Bersatu) because it would be impossible for the delegates to reject what was proposed by the divisions.
"But I got to know, and it became a reality today, that most likely PAU will not be held this Jan 31," he said.
"That is why I decided to make the announcement today," he added.
Responding to questions from the media, Nazri noted there were certain Umno ministers who appeared to be in denial of the grassroots demands, as they wanted to protect their own positions in government.
"It is clear there are ministers and deputy ministers who are reluctant (to withdraw support) because they will lose their salary.
"It’s okay. But we can't listen to them because they have their self-interest, unlike me, I have none so I can follow what my party wants," he said.
On possibilities that there would be other Umno MPs to follow his footsteps, Nazri said it would be up to their own considerations.
"I think there will be two or three more in this near future," he said.
