KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 — Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will hold a public address at 12.30pm today, as the country is thrown into another political conundrum following the withdrawal of support by Umno from the ruling coalition.

The address was initially scheduled for 11.30am with broadcasts on RTM, TV3 and Astro Awani but have now been pushed back. 

Muhyiddin has just completed his audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at Istana Negara, ahead of a scheduled Cabinet meeting.

Separately, Malay news portal Sinar Harian reported that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is also expected to make a special announcement at 4pm today.

According to the report, the announcement concerned the stance of Barisan Nasional MPs who were keen on supporting the ruling government and is a response to an earlier announcement on the withdrawal of support by Umno.

Ismail’s office has not confirmed the matter just yet.

The political turmoil comes after Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi claimed that enough of the party’s federal lawmakers have signed a declaration to withdraw its support for Muhyiddin and the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.

The withdrawal of support effectively means Muhyiddin no longer commands the majority in the Lower House.

Earlier yesterday, Umno MP for Lenggong Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah resigned as the energy and natural resources minister.

In a statement, he said that he had decided to quit the Cabinet in adherence with Umno’s decision to not support the PN government as led by Muhyiddin.