PAN does a U-turn about Muhyiddin being the new opposition leader

(MMO) – Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) has denied backing former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to be federal opposition leader, claiming that central committee member Mazlan Aliman’s remarks were taken out of context.

“Unfortunately, a recent news report wrongly quoted Mazlan as saying that Parti Amanah Negara wanted Muhyiddin to take over as opposition leader.

“The erroneous report has caused uneasiness among party leaders,” Amanah strategic director Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad told New Sunday Times, the weekend edition of New Straits Times.

Dzulkefly said that Amanah would, however, welcome both Muhyiddin and Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir with “open arms” should they decide to join the opposition.

“Parti Amanah Negara has instructed Mazlan to hold a press conference as soon as possible to clear the air,” he added.

Yesterday, local daily The Star quoted Mazlan as saying his party fully supports Muhyiddin to fill the opposition leader post currently held by PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

“It was agreed that we pick Muhyiddin as the new opposition leader as Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is serving time in prison,” he was quoted saying, referring to Dr Wan Azizah’s husband, who is currently behind bars for sodomy.

“He has the experience and will strengthen us,” he reportedly added.

Mazlan said, however, that the party would still like to see Anwar be made prime minister someday.

Last month, Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced that the party’s supreme council unanimously agreed to expel Muhyiddin and Mukhriz for their alleged involvement with the opposition, a breach of party rules.

Former vice-president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal was also suspended.

In a press conference later, Muhyiddin said he was weighing a new political platform from which to continue his criticism of the government, but declined to state if this will be another political party.