KUALA LUMPUR: Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin says he is ready to work with former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for the sake of the Malay cause.
In a Facebook posting, Muhyiddin said due to the current political developments that had put the Muslim and Malay community at the crossroads, he would personally be ready to work with Mahathir for the sake of defending religion, race and country.
"I am aware that recent political developments have put the Malays and Muslims in this country at a bitter crossroads.
"So as a Muslim, I am personally ready to work with all Malay and Muslim figures including Tun Dr Mahathir for the sake of defending religion, race and country."
He also welcomed the statement from Mahathir who said that he was willing to work with the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president for the goal of fighting for the fate of the Malays and Muslims.
Yesterday, an online news outlet quoted Mahathir as stating he was willing to work with Muhyiddin again if the two could agree on the goals they wanted to accomplish together.
The relationship between the two former prime ministers had deteriorated in February 2020 because of the Sheraton Move, which resulted in the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration, of which Dr Mahathir was prime minister.
Yesterday, an online news portal quoted Dr Mahathir as saying he was ready to work with Muhyiddin again, provided the pair could reach a consensus on the objectives they hope to achieve together.
The two former Umno leaders' relationship had soured in February 2020 over the Sheraton Move that led to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, in which Dr Mahathir was prime minister.
Dr Mahathir had described Muhyiddin, who took over as prime minister, as a "traitor". He then resigned from his post as Bersatu chairman.
However, ahead of the 15th General Election (GE15) last November, Dr Mahathir stated that he was prepared to forgive Muhyiddin's treachery so that his Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) coalition of Bumiputera parties and NGOs, as well as the PN, could work together to defeat PH and the Barisan Nasional (BN).
This anticipated coalition never materialised, and GTA, which included Pejuang, lost every seat it ran for.
Dr Mahathir has recently left both Pejuang and GTA; and launched a new campaign dubbed the "Malay Proclamation" where it was signed by three Bersatu officials and numerous Pas leaders, including its president, Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang.