Muhyiddin says failed to save Perikatan govt due to those who are power-hungry

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin claimed today he failed to save his Perikatan Nasional (PN) government as a result of the purported greed for power from certain quarters.

In his national address today announcing his resignation as prime minister, Muhyiddin said he had resorted to many ways to save the coalition, but inevitably failed.

"I did many things until the last minute to save the PN government, at least until the job of managing the pandemic, the vaccination programme and for economic rehabilitation.

“But these attempts did not work as there were parties who were greedy to grab power, rather than prioritising the lives and livelihoods of the people,” said the Pagoh MP.

“To me, what happened is Allah’s will, which is an episode in the history of my political struggles,” he added.

Muhyiddin then recalled the time when he was sacked as the deputy prime minister during the height of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal for refusing to take part in the corruption taking place then.

“I fought, I sacrificed and in the end, Allah lifted the dignity of my struggles until I was entrusted to lead this nation as prime minister.

“However, it is fated that today is the last day I will be the prime minister and I accept this as the will of God,” he added.

Muhyiddin became the country’s shortest ruling prime minister today amid a prolonged and fractious power struggle with Umno that has left the PN coalition in tatters.

Earlier today, he had an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and tendered his resignation as prime minister and that of his Cabinet.

In a statement, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah said that Muhyiddin will now serve as caretaker prime minister until his successor, who commands the majority of Dewan Rakyat, is appointed from among the MPs.