Dr M Insists He S Not The One Who Triggered 2020 Political Crisis

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Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at a press conference at Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya. -- NSTP/AIZUDDIN SAADPUTRAJAYA: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad pointed to those who did not support his decision to remain as PM as the ones responsible for starting the political crisis in 2020.
The two-time prime minister said he was puzzled why fingers kept pointing at him for the political crisis which started since his resignation as the seventh prime minister two years ago.
"I do not understand why people are blaming me for resigning.
"The ones who are at fault were those who refused to support my decision.
"I had asked for Bersatu to postpone their decision and to not leave (Pakatan Harapan) yet but they banged on the table as if they were rejecting me (as their leader)," he said at a press conference at the Perdana Leadership Foundation here, today.
Dr Mahathir was responding to a question from the press regarding the Yang diPertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah royal's address in Parliament.
The King in his speech had said the nation's four-year political crisis would have been prevented if Dr Mahathir did not resign from his post.
The former Langkawi Member of Parliament explained that he resigned as Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) chairman then because the party had urged him to leave the PH coalition.
"I resigned because of the party. Usually, in a democractic setting if we are rejected by our own party, then we should resign.
"Apart from that, I realised the PH government would fall because of Bersatu and a certain number of PKR MPs leaving the coalition... and if the coalition falls, then the government will topple and I cannot be the PM.
"If I am not the PM then I cannot appoint Anwar (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) as the PM because we need to follow due process to gain majority and even then there was no Parliament sitting yet," he said.
In February 2020, the country's political crisis started after Bersatu had announced to leave the PH coalition which led to Dr Mahathir's resignation from his position.
The episode has led to several meetings with the King which ultimately caused the collapse of PH government and the start of the Perikatan Nasional administration led by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. - NST

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