KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 4 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today blasted Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for criticising the newly formed Cabinet, defending DAP and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Using Muhyiddin's given name of Mahiaddin, Ahmad Zahid said on Facebook that the former prime minister should follow the example set by DAP and prioritise the country over parties and individuals.
"Mahiaddin and his allies should be ashamed of being seen as too power-hungry until they're willing to dispute the Malay Rulers.
"They should heed DAP that puts the interest of the country more than the party and individuals, moving forward to make the unity government a success like the Agong had proposed."
Yesterday, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said his party had given its support to Anwar to become prime minister without setting any condition for the number of Cabinet positions, and that the party was even willing to sacrifice itself if it were to pose a “stumbling block” to the formation of an Anwar-led government.
DAP was given just four ministerial roles despite winning 40 parliamentary seats, the most among Pakatan Harapan.
Zahid also told Muhyiddin and his allies to learn how to be a capable Opposition and not whine or be hysterical after failing to become prime minister and form the government.
Defending Anwar for holding the finance minister post as well, Zahid listed Anwar's achievements during his last stint in charge of the finance portfolio.
"Anwar was also 'the Asian of the Year' and Malaysia received the title of ‘The Asian Tiger’ among Asian countries when he was the finance minister,” he said.
"It is certain that foreign investors would be more confident to make investments while Anwar is the finance minister,” he said, adding that Muhyiddin had never achieved such records.
Instead, Ahmad Zahid said Muhyiddin’s administration was known as a failed one and was problematic in governing the country.
He also pointed out that the current government is not a Pakatan Harapan (PH) one, but a unity government.
Yesterday, Muhyiddin had labelled Anwar's Cabinet "disappointing" after appointing Ahmad Zahid as the deputy prime minister despite the latter still facing 47 ongoing corruption charges.
Muhyiddin also slammed Anwar for helming the Finance Ministry portfolio, which he described as a practice that could lead to the centralisation of power and large-scale misappropriation as happened in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.
