Marzuki reveals Tun M had once agreed to nominate Muhyiddin as PM

KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is said to be reluctant to be nominated as Prime Minister after Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad resigned following the political crisis stemming from the ‘Sheraton Move’ in February last year.

Muhyiddin at the time was adamant that Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) named Dr Mahathir again as the prime ministerial candidate, revealed the Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, Datuk Marzuki Mohamad.

Marzuki said Muhyiddin told the members of Parliament from Bersatu to only submit one name, and that of Dr Mahathir, to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah the night before having an audience with His Majesty.

“It’s true, Tun Mahathir and Datuk Seri Anwar (Ibrahim) did not get the support of the majority of MPs to be sworn in as Prime Minister.

"It was at that time Muhyiddin was called to save the situation.

“After Tun Mahathir failed to get the support of the majority, he (Muhyiddin) finally agreed that his name be submitted to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as the prime ministerial candidate.

"Out of respect for Tun Mahathir, he (Muhyiddin) met with the former Prime Minister at his office and asked him to support his candidacy as Prime Minister.

"It felt like deja vu for me as I waited outside the PM's office while Tan Sri Muhyiddin and two other Bersatu leaders met Tun Mahathir," Marzuki said in a statement via Facebook on Tuesday.

Marzuki said upon leaving the office, Muhyiddin told him and the two Bersatu leaders that Dr Mahathir did not mind his candidacy and said he could proceed with it if he had enough support from MPs.

“But Tun Mahathir then refused to support Tan Sri Muhyiddin and instead nominated himself as the prime ministerial candidate.

"However, Tan Sri Muhyiddin managed to get enough support from MPs and was appointed as the 8th Prime Minister on March 1, 2020," added Marzuki.

Muhyiddin's appointment as Prime Minister marks the beginning of the administration of the Perikatan Nasional (PN), supported by MPs from Bersatu, BN, PAS, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).

On August 7, 2020, PN was officially registered as a coalition of political parties consisting Bersatu, PAS, Star and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP).

Apart from the founding members of PN, Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Gerakan) joined PN as a component party on February 11, 2021.