KUALA LUMPUR: Political observers say Bersatu Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's announcement to relinquish the presidency and then withdraw it was an attempt to mimic Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's move in 2002.
Back then, Dr Mahathir during the president's winding-up speech at the 56th Umno general assembly made an unexpected announcement that he was resigning from the post of party president, prompting Umno Supreme Council members to rush to his side, begging him to change his mind, while the delegates were in shock.
One hour after the announcement, his then-deputy Tun (then Datuk Seri) Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Dr Mahathir had retracted his decision.
Political analyst Dr Mohammad Tawfik Yaakub, however, said Muhyiddin was caught up in his own words when openly declaring the greatest power in determining political careers (in this context, as Bersatu president) was not the general assembly, but his wife.
"Dr Mahathir has never openly involved his wife in determining his political future. In my opinion,
Muhyiddin was just testing the market to see current support, even though he denies it is a political gimmick.
"So, it's somewhat amusing if you want to compare Muhyiddin's actions to Dr Mahathir's before," he said when contacted.
Yesterday (Saturday), Muhyiddin during the president's winding-up speech at Bersatu annual general meeting announced that he would be contesting for another term.
This was after he announced during the president's policy speech that he would not defend his position on Friday.
Muhyiddin also shared that his wife Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman, told him that the party still needed him and he should stay for another term.
The former prime minister during a press conference at the end of the party's general assembly, refuted allegations that his announcement about not defending his position in the upcoming party poll was a mere gimmick.
Tawfik, however, believed that it was a gimmick despite Muhyiddin denying it.
"If he is genuinely serious about stepping down, he should have announced a successor and firmly stand by the decision, even if he is heavily persuaded.
"In my opinion, Muhyiddin needs to be firm when making decisions. He should not be worried
about 'sinking', when he is no longer the president.
"He can suggest himself to be the de facto leader of Bersatu, using various positions such as an advisor or the chairman," he said, adding that he believes Muhyiddin's action was a political drama just to appear relevant and to warm the atmosphere of Bersatu's annual general meeting.
Tawfik added what Muhyiddin did was about "testing the waters" to see if he had the support to do so.
This, he said, after four Bersatu members of parliament (MP) declared their support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the unity government, along with an MP who openly said that he was also willing to support the prime minister if an allocation was given to his constituency.
"This clearly shows that Muhyiddin cannot control his own MPs and it is more worrying if the same situation is happening at the grassroots level.
"Therefore, he decided to test the waters at the Bersatu general assembly to gauge the support for him," he said when contacted.
The four Bersatu MPs were Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan) and Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar).
Recently on Nov 9, Bukit Gantang MP Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal expressed his readiness to support Anwar, if the allocation request of RM30 million for his constituency is approved under the 2024 Budget.
Another political analyst Dr Ainul Adzellie Hasnul also viewed what Muhyiddin did as trying to replicate what Dr Mahathir did back in 2002, when he wanted to vacate his post in Umno.
"He wanted to see whether the delegates still wanted him in the party or not.
Indeed, when he saw that the delegates protested his announcement, he "decided" to still defend his position as the head of the party."
He added Muhyiddin should have not announced that he would not defend the position in the first place.
"I am not sure whether it is a gimmick or not, but I do believe that he is not ready to vacate his post.
"This, as Bersatu still has a chance to topple the government in the next general election. Only after the election should he decide whether to stay on as the party president, based on the election result."