KUALA LUMPUR: Persatuan Patriot Kebangsaan (Patriot), a non-governmental organisation representing retired armed forces personnel, has demanded a public apology from Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and his deputy Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang for rejecting the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's advice to form a unity government, calling the action "treacherous".
Its president Brig-Gen (Rtd) Datuk Mohamed Arshad Mohammed Raji said Muhyiddin's stance on the matter undermines the nation's constitutional monarchy and sets a very dangerous precedent.
He said Patriot takes very serious offence towards politicians who went against the King's attempt to ensure the new government can be formed in the best interest of the nation and the public.
"In particular, Muhyiddin's outright and public rejection of His Majesty's suggestion to work with Pakatan Harapan (PH) towards a unity government is treacherous.
"He has irresponsibly set a precedent and Patriot, whose members have served His Majesty as members of the security forces, will not tolerate this dangerous position that Muhyiddin has taken ," said Arshad in a statement.
Yesterday, Muhyiddin was reported as saying that PN had rejected the King's proposal for a unity government composed of PN and PH.
Muhyiddin said the King made the proposal during their audience, which was also attended by PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Arshad said Patriot stands by the King and honours the position taken by Anwar after the latter's wise and prudent response to the King's aspirations for the nation.
"We sternly remind Muhyiddin and his compatriots that had it been PH that behaved so recklessly like PN, Anwar would immediately be called 'penderhaka' (traitor) and all hell would have broken loose on the streets.
"Patriot demands an immediate public apology from Muhyiddin (and the PAS president who accompanied him) for blurting to the media that they will not adhere to His Majesty's advice," said Arshad.