SEREMBAN: All Umno MPs must abide by the call from the party president for the Prime Minister's resignation, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

The Umno deputy president said that Umno MPs must do so as this has been a collective decision by the party.

"This is also in line with the voice of the grassroots during the party's general assembly and further refined and ratified at the supreme council meeting on July 7,” he said.

“No excuse can be used to defend the government which has been seen to be clearly disobedient, reckless and failed to carry out the orders and advice of the King," added Mohamad in a statement on Friday (July 30).

Mohamad said loyalty to the Perikatan Nasional government cannot surpass loyalty to the King, country and party.

He said the same applied to all party members irrespective if they held positions in the government or otherwise.

Mohamad said the statement by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah that the government's decision to revoke six Emergency Ordinances were made without His Majesty's consent has plunged Malaysia into a serious constitutional crisis.

"The government's attitude is clearly arrogant and immoral towards the King. As such, all Umno MPs must stay away from being dragged into a crisis between the government and the Palace,” said Mohamad.

"They cannot be in a position that can be construed as taking the Palace's rebuke lightly because that is an institution which Umno has pledged to obey and defend," he added.

Mohamad said that apart from carrying out an unconstitutional act by revoking the Ordinances without the King's consent, the Perikatan government had also not been truthful in Parliament.

Mohamad said the Umno MPs must also support the party's decision especially since the people have lost all confidence in the Perikatan government.

He said a statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Thursday (July 29) that the action taken related to the revocation of the Emergency Ordinances was proper, and in accordance with the Federal Constitution and the rule of law has only further worsened matters.

The PMO had said that the government remains committed to upholding the views of the King and Malay Rulers as expressed during the special meeting on June 16, which among others had noted that the Emergency should not be extended beyond Aug 1 and that Parliament should reconvene as soon as possible.

On Thursday, Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi called on Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to resign as Prime Minister following the royal rebuke over the government's handling of the revocation of the Emergency Ordinances.

The Bagan Datuk MP also called on Umno MPs to withdraw their support of Muhyiddin's leadership in line with the Umno supreme council decision of July 7.

Ahmad Zahid had said that Umno is disappointed with Muhyiddin for going against the wishes of the King for the Emergency Ordinances to be debated and revoked in Parliament in line with Article 150 (3) of the Federal Constitution.

He reminded Umno MPs of their oath of loyalty to the King and to protect the Federal Constitution at all times.

However, Deputy Prime Minister and Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri on Thursday had issued a statement saying that 40 out of Barisan Nasional's 42 MPs supported Muhyiddin to remain as PM.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/07/30/abide-by-party-president039s-call-for-pm039s-resignation-says-mohamad-hasan-to-umno-mps