KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said he still commands the parliamentary majority, adding that he has received statutory declarations (SDs) from MPs who pledged their support.
In a special address on Wednesday (Aug 4), he said he will prove his majority in the parliament next month.
“I understand that my position as prime minister always gets questioned.
“Therefore, I have informed the king that I will prove my legitimacy as prime minister in the parliament. A motion of confidence will be tabled when the parliament meets in September,” he said.
The special address was aired after he met the king for a royal audience.
“During the audience, I informed the king that I have received a total of SDs from MPs which give me the confidence that I still have majority at the moment,” he said.
Mr Muhyiddin was appointed as prime minister in February last year following a power struggle in Putrajaya. The Perikatan Nasional ruling coalition has faced challenges, with the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) repeatedly threatening to withdraw support.
UMNO, a traditionally dominant party in Barisan Nasional, has 38 MPs, while Bersatu – seen as a splinter of UMNO – has 31.
On Tuesday, UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi claimed that he has gathered a sufficient number of statutory declarations (SDs) from party lawmakers who are withdrawing their support for Mr Muhyiddin. As such, Mr Muhyiddin has lost his parliamentary majority, he said.
A minister from UMNO also resigned from the Cabinet on Tuesday. Mr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, who is Lenggong MP, said in a statement that he is stepping down as the energy and natural resources minister after taking party decisions into consideration.