KUALA LUMPUR — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s decision to reject the proposal of forming a unity government with the Democratic Action Party (DAP) after Malaysia’s 15th general election (GE15) was consistent with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (Bersatu) core principles, his former principal private secretary, Datuk Dr Marzuki Mohamad, said.
Marzuki defended the Bersatu president’s move, saying that although Muhyiddin didn’t consult the party’s supreme leadership council (MPT), the decision reflected Bersatu’s long-standing policy of rejecting any cooperation with DAP.
“If the decision had been wrong, Perikatan Nasional (PN) would have suffered heavy losses in the 2023 state elections,” Marzuki said in a statement today.
“But that wasn’t the case. PN won overwhelmingly in four states — Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, and Perlis — and nearly captured Selangor, a Pakatan Harapan stronghold. PN also made significant inroads in Penang and Negeri Sembilan,” he said.
He added that many Malay voters who supported Umno during GE15 shifted to PN in the state elections because they disapproved of Umno leaders abandoning the party’s “No Anwar, No DAP” stance.
“Umno’s Supreme Council decided to work with DAP, and as a result, Umno was rejected by its own supporters,” Marzuki said.
His remarks came in response to Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, who recently alleged that Muhyiddin had rejected the unity government proposal without consulting the PN Supreme Council.
Wan Ahmad Fayhsal claimed that the decision was made immediately before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana Negara on November 22, 2022, after several party leaders, including Pakatan Harapan chairperson Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, had met the King.
Marzuki, however, denied that Muhyiddin had acted unilaterally, saying the meeting was also attended by PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang.
“Looking at what has happened to Umno, Muhyiddin’s rejection of the DAP alliance was the right political judgment,” Marzuki said.
“Those who criticise the decision are simply impatient to return to power — willing to partner with DAP and even break party principles just to be in government,” he added. — October 22, 2025