Muhyiddin denies treason against Agong

Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin denies claims that he has committed treason against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in rejecting the ruler's decree for the formation of a unity government in the wake of the Nov 19 election. 

Speaking at a PN campaign event for the Padang Serai polls in Kedah last night, he said the decree he had spoken of was in fact a suggestion or view put forth by Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah given that no single political party had succeeded in winning a simple majority in the polls. 

He said he could only be accused of treason if the decree was based on the constitution.

"The suggestion for a unity government was proposed by the Agong, whom we respect," he said. 

"There are no provisions in the Federal Constitution saying that a unity government must be formed. 

"If it's not in the constitution and if the Agong said it would be good if a unity government was formed, can I not say that I disagree?"

Pakatan Harapan (PH) won 82 seats at the 15th general election, followed by PN with 73 seats and BN with just 30. 

This resulted in a hung parliament, with no coalition possessing the support needed to form the government on its own. 

PH, which obtained the support of BN and Warisan, and later Gabungan Parti Sarawak and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, eventually formed the government at the federal government. 

Muhyiddin said the government led by PH chairman Anwar Ibrahim was not a unity government as not every party was represented in it. 

On claims of RM600 billion in off-the-books spending during PN's time in government, Muhyiddin challenged Anwar to provide proof of the accusations, especially given that Tengku Zafrul Aziz – the finance minister at the time – had been appointed to the Cabinet once more. 

He reiterated that the actual amount was RM530 billion, not just in expenditure but also for government programmes to help cushion the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and to jumpstart the economy. 

"Anwar was in the opposition at the time," he added. "How many proposals were presented for approval? All of them were approved. 

"The one who approved them was Zafrul, who is now the international trade and industry minister. Call him and ask him. 

"I am ready to go to court if I am wrong. I am not Ahmad Zahid Hamidi," he said.