Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin today hit out at Umno veteran Shahrir Abd Samad, calling him “stupid” for challenging Bersatu to withdraw its support for Johor Menteri Besar Hasni Mohammad.

He said while he was able to do this, he was more concerned about the well-being of the people who have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Even now, we can press a button and everything would fall. We are not afraid, but because I believe the people of Johor are more important, we do not want to face the same problems that happened in Melaka.

“He tells Bersatu to pull its support, would that be smart or stupid?” he said at a press conference during a visit to the PN operations room in the Bemban state constituency today.

He also described the former Johor Bahru MP as “evil” for issuing the challenge.

Shahrir had earlier asked why there was no menteri besar candidate from Bersatu after the formation of the new state government last year.

“Thinking of pulling your support so that there will be a state election in Johor, too? Feel free. Johor Umno is ready,” he had said in a post on social media.

He was referring to a statement by Muhyiddin, saying the Barisan Nasional government in Johor would not be toppled due to the former prime minister’s attentiveness.

Muhyiddin said as a person from Johor, he would not cause a similar situation in the state as had been “caused by Umno in Melaka”.

“Shahrir is not making sense,” he said. “He lost in the last election, and he is upset.”

Muhyiddin also said that the coalition’s candidate for Melaka chief minister will be announced before polling day. He said the delay in announcing PN’s choice for the post was part of the coalition’s strategy.

He said the candidate would come from Bersatu if the party succeeds in winning enough seats and obtaining the support of other component parties.