Not wrong to topple Anwar a la Muhyiddin, says Mahathir

Former leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said there would be nothing wrong with MPs wanting to topple Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, as had happened to his predecessor Muhyiddin Yassin. 

Speaking at a press conference in Putrajaya, he said representatives had the right to change the government. 

"It's not against any law," he said, adding that any administration that is not well run can be ousted by party members in the government. 

Mahathir, who was prime minister himself for more than two decades, was responding to reporters' questions on whether the coalition government led by Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional could remain in office until the end of its term. 

He said it was up to party members to help the government succeed or to choose new parties or leaders. 

He said this was what happened to Muhyiddin, the Perikatan Nasional chairman, during his tenure in the top office. 

"Umno was not satisfied, and it pulled its support and replaced him with an Umno leader," he said. 

Muhyiddin resigned as prime minister in August 2021 after losing his majority in Parliament.

He was succeeded by Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who remained in office until the dissolution of Parliament in October last year.