Umno Youth moots 'war cabinet', interim PM to replace Muhyiddin
Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki has mooted the formation of a "war cabinet", with an interim prime minister to head the government.
This came after his party claimed Muhyiddin Yassin has lost majority support in Parliament as 11 Umno MPs withdrew their support for the prime minister and Perikatan Nasional government.
Apart from dissolving the Parliament, Asyraf (above) said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong may exercise his discretion to appoint any MP as the interim prime minister after the resignation of Muhyiddin.
"An interim prime minister who is not controversial, not perceived as a threat to anybody and has no political ambition to kill any political competitors," he said in a Facebook posting today.
"The interim prime minister could create a 'war cabinet' or a cabinet similar to the UK's experience in several major historical events to fight the foot and mouth disease, Brexit and the (second) world war during the era of Winston Churchill.
"The war cabinet is inclusive and comprises representatives from all major parties from the government and the opposition," he added.
Asyraf said the war cabinet can deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, expedite vaccination and work on welfare assistance for those in need.
There shouldn't be any "horse-trading" activities to get the support of politicians and MPs throughout the interim government, he said.
"There should be a political ceasefire for the time being until the 15th general election," Asyraf added.
Opposition MPs have renewed their call for Muhyiddin's resignation after a royal rebuke from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong last week.
Muhyiddin plunged into new political limbo after Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced yesterday that 11 MPs had stated their withdrawal of support for Muhyiddin in writing and the process of gathering more was ongoing.
On Aug 2, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim claimed today that Muhyiddin has lost majority support in Parliament.
