KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 ― Former Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today he only found about his removal from Cabinet an hour before it was announced.
Muhyiddin told reporters today that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had only informed him yesterday morning that he wanted to meet with him at 11.30am.
“I was only notified by the Prime Minister's office yesterday. I was in Negri Sembilan at the time when he wanted to meet me at 11.30 am. However, I only met him at 12.15pm,” he said during a press conference at his house.
The Umno deputy president added that Najib was very hesitant to deliver the news and merely only nodded when asked if the meeting was about the Cabinet reshuffle.
“In the meeting, I asked him why was I here. I asked him if it was about the Cabinet reshuffle.
“He just nodded his head. He explained to me his reason behind the decision and his views. He said it was very hard for him to tell me the decision,” he added.
The Pagoh MP also said he respected the decision made by Najib to reshufle the Cabinet.
“It is the PM’s prerogative to make such a decision and it has been a practice. I do not want to question it although I have given my explanation to him.
“As a veteran politician, I have to accept the decision and follow. I’ve done my best but if the PM feels I don’t need to continue my duties, I will accept,” he explained.
Muhyiddin was dropped as deputy prime minister in a sudden Cabinet reshuffle that Najib announced yesterday after he openly criticised the PM’s handling of the 1MDB crisis.
Among the other ministers that was dropped yesterday is Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, who was rural and regional development minister also rumoured to be axed for speaking up against 1MDB.
