During a heated Dewan Rakyat session, Pagoh MP and former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin demanded a public apology and retraction from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim over what he described as a baseless accusation regarding fuel subsidies for foreigners.
The controversy arose when Anwar, during his speech, reportedly implied that Muhyiddin had endorsed RON95 petrol subsidies for non-citizens. This remark prompted a strong rebuttal from Muhyiddin, who labeled the allegation as slanderous and completely false. While debating the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13), he emphasized that no public record existed to support such a claim, urging members of the public and Parliament alike to verify it independently.
Although parliamentary privilege shields MPs from legal repercussions for statements made in the House, Muhyiddin argued that accountability transcends legal boundaries, especially in matters of integrity. He stressed that such misrepresentation carries moral and religious implications, regardless of parliamentary immunity.
Expressing openness to reconciliation, Muhyiddin signaled that he would accept an apology from Anwar if it was made promptly. He framed the situation as potentially stemming from a human error rather than malice and extended an opportunity for the Prime Minister to clarify and rectify his statement.
Other opposition lawmakers joined the call for accountability. Hulu Terengganu MP Datuk Rosol Wahid criticized Anwar for allegedly entering the House without proper preparation, while Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal went a step further by suggesting a six-month suspension for Anwar from parliamentary proceedings. Muhyiddin appeared to support both suggestions, arguing that the Prime Minister had relied on false information from unverified sources and brought it into official proceedings, a move he deemed both irresponsible and damaging.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, Muhyiddin disclosed that he had been summoned by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to provide a statement regarding the controversy. He questioned why the investigation appeared to focus on him when the initial claim had originated from the Prime Minister. To him, the involvement of the MCMC felt like an abuse of power, raising concerns over selective scrutiny.
Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul later clarified that the Prime Minister’s Office had indeed instructed MCMC to trace the source of the information, believed to have originated from an online portal. As the issue unfolds, Muhyiddin stood firm in his position that the inquiry should begin with the Prime Minister himself.
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