Muhyiddin asserts Mahathir did not see eye-to-eye with him when he became PM

Focus Malaysia:

Muhyiddin asserts Mahathir did not see eye-to-eye with him when he became PM

TAN Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said in an interview with Sinar Harian that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was disappointed and didn’t see eye-to-eye with what was happening when he took over as Prime Minister in 2020, adding, “but that was the reality.”

Muhyiddin also said he did not have to consult Mahathir while he was the Prime Minister, adding that
he has ample experience in leading and managing the country effectively.

In the interview which appeared today in the online portal in Malay, the former Prime Minister and current Pagoh MP stated that the public could judge his leadership when he took over the government during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Is there any advice he (Dr. Mahathir) gave that I didn’t follow, or did he even advise me? When I took over (the government), Tun Mahathir was disappointed and didn’t see eye-to-eye with what was happening, but that was the reality.

“I had enough support to form the government, and I didn’t need to refer to him or ask what should be done because I have the experience and can handle Covid-19 matters on my own, but he doesn’t have experience managing such a large amount of funds.

“I didn’t consult Tun Mahathir, and this isn’t about making comparisons. I still respect him as a statesman with extensive experience,” he said.

In 2020, Mahathir, an hour before the swearing in as the new Prime Minister, said he felt betrayed by Muhyiddin.

“He was working on this for a long time and now he has succeeded,” he said at a press conference at Yayasan Al-Bukhary on March 1, 2020.

Recently, Mahathir had expressed disappointment that all his successors did not want to heed his opinions and advice, although he meant well.

However, Muhyiddin also admitted that he meet Mahathir to seek his views on the political and national situation.

“I went to see (Dr. Mahathir) because there were certain matters where I wanted to hear his thoughts and concerns about the future issues faced by the Malays. I shared this, and he spoke openly.” said Muhuddin. – Oct 27, 2024