PM, Cabinet still hold executive power, says AGC

The Attorney-General’s Chambers today said that Muhyiddin Yassin and his Cabinet will continue to perform their executive function despite Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s announcement late last night that the party had revoked its support for the prime minister.

In a statement, it said there were no clear facts showing that the prime minister no longer commanded the majority support of MPs in the Dewan Rakyat.

“According to Article 43(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution, whether or not an individual possesses the majority support of MPs must be determined by the MPs themselves and not through a statement by a political party or party leader,” it said.

“Therefore, from the legal perspective, the prime minister and his Cabinet members will continue to carry out the executive power at the federal level.”

In his announcement after chairing a meeting of the Supreme Council last night, Zahid said Muhyiddin had failed to fulfil several conditions as the basis of Umno’s support for the Perikatan Nasional government.

“Umno urges Muhyiddin to step down gracefully and to allow a new prime minister for a limited term,” he said.

He also said the government had failed to manage the Covid-19 crisis, accusing it of using the virus emergency for its political benefit at the cost of the country’s economy, and of failing to uphold democratic practices and to effectively distribute aid to the people.

However, it is understood that the vast majority of Umno MPs are sticking with their decision not to revoke support for Muhyiddin, despite Zahid’s announcement.

A senior Umno source said aside from Zahid, only a handful of MPs who include former leader Najib Razak and Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan have decided to revoke support for the prime minister.

MalaysiaNow also reported that the Supreme Council had allowed MPs the freedom to break ranks with its decision to revoke support for Muhyiddin.