If PN falls, ‘kleptocrats’ will return, DAP MP tells of dilemma

An opposition MP has warned that any power vacuum created by the downfall of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government could be filled by Umno, with the prospect of the former ruling party coming back stronger at the next polls.

Tony Pua, DAP’s Damansara MP, said while the opposition may have its best chance to get back at Muhyiddin Yassin, who was among the key leaders who engineered the downfall of the Pakatan Harapan government, his replacement could be from Umno.

“And when any Umno leader becomes PM, wouldn’t all the kleptocrats be set free (or possibly even regain power)?” Pua asked, in an apparent reference to Umno leaders from the so-called “court cluster” who are facing multiple corruption charges.

He said any return of Umno to the top government post would see the party consolidating its political power “to emerge even stronger” after the next general election.

He said any such move could mean Umno leaders “getting away scot-free”, adding that the opposition could alternatively tolerate the PN government “just a little while longer”.

“This checks Umno, while PH and the rakyat can get rid of Muhyiddin and Azmin in the next GE,” he added, referring to former PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali who led MPs out of the party during the so-called Sheraton Move last year.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, his predecessor Najib Razak and several former leaders of the previous Barisan Nasional government are facing multiple corruption charges involving hundreds of millions of ringgit.

Zahid and Najib have been leading a campaign to get Umno MPs to revoke their support for Muhyiddin. Last year, the duo backed Anwar Ibrahim in the PH chairman’s efforts to topple Muhyiddin.

Yesterday, Zahid announced that he and several Umno MPs had lost confidence in Muhyiddin, triggering talk of an imminent collapse of the government.

Following an audience with the Agong today, Muhyiddin said he still commands the majority support from MPs, adding that he will allow a confidence vote against him to take place when the Dewan Rakyat convenes in September.