Muhyiddin to Anwar: Thanks but no thanks, PN will be the opposition

Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin has declined an invitation from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to join his government, saying the coalition prefers to strengthen democracy by acting as an effective check and balance in Parliament.

"PN will play the role of a credible opposition to bring the voice of the people to Parliament, as well as to ensure a corruption-free governance with integrity in line with the caring, clean and stable principles," Muhyiddin said in a statement.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in his first media conference after being sworn into the top office yesterday had extended an invitation to PN to join what he described as a "unity government".

PN won 73 seats in the recent election, in what was seen as a nationwide Malay tsunami where a number of traditional Umno and PKR strongholds changed hands to the two-year-old coalition comprising Bersatu, PAS and Gerakan.

Muhyiddin meanwhile gave his assurance that PN was committed to political stability, and as such was prepared to cooperate with the government in other arrangements within the parliamentary framework.

The "unity government" was proposed by the Agong, with Muhyiddin asked if he agreed to working with Anwar's Pakatan Harapan as well as Barisan Nasional (BN).

Muhyiddin, who had support from Sarawak's GRS before the latter was advised by the palace to join Anwar's unity government, had rejected the Agong's proposal.

"I was asked to sign a document if we agreed. I signed, but said 'do not agree'," he said following his audience with the Agong on Tuesday.