SHAH ALAM: Just after one day announcing that he won't defend his position, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today retracted his decision and announced that he will be contesting for another term.
During the president's winding-up speech at the party's annual general assembly today, Muhyiddin said the next party election next year would be his last time to defend the post.
He shared a text message from his wife, Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman, who told him that the party still needs him and he should stay for another term.
"She texted me yesterday when I was doing my policy speech as we were seated far from each other. She also said to stay for another term and not to disappoint you guys as you need me.
"She said you guys are sincere, but I told her that I know that and asked her what about it.
"That was when she said to carry on and that she gives me her blessing (to continue and defend the post)," he said at the assembly, today.
His announcement had received a standing ovation from the delegates who chanted 'hidup abah' (long live abah).
Earlier in his speech, Muhyiddin proposed to become the party's advisor which could help the party in determining its direction before retracting his announcement.
He said a presidential council could be established to allow him to continue to contribute to the party even if he was not a president.
"If agreed, we can propose to amend the party constitution and we can add the provision for the advisor's position, like the chairman position we used to have.
"At the same time, the council can act like the Syura council (of Pas) where matters such as party direction, policies and candidates for elections are finalised by the council," he said.
The proposal put forth by him, however, was rejected by the delegates who shouted that the party still needed him as the president.
Meanwhile, the Bersatu AGM earlier unanimously passed the motion to reject the decision made by Muhyiddin to not defend his post.
The delegates also passed two other motions relating to the matter, which are the motion to reject its supreme council members from holding meetings to discuss potential candidates for Muhyiddin's predecessors, as well as the current assembly to be Muhyiddin's final one as a president.