PUTRAJAYA: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and his former government focused much energy on saving lives during the Covid-19 pandemic before they were “interrupted”.
The caretaker Prime Minister said he and his government had worked hard to battle the pandemic, adding: “Is that not honourable?”
He also lamented the fact that the pandemic had led to a higher number of poor Malaysians.
“For me, there is a lot of work to be done,” he told senior editors after a special live address following his meeting with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Monday.
He had handed his resignation letter to the King.
Muhyiddin disagreed with viral complaints made under “#kerajaangagal”, pointing out that his government had delivered and saved millions of lives.
He said he was happy with what they had achieved, though he was also sad that he would not be able to carry out his tasks to the end.
“I could have done more if I had been around as Prime Minister to finish what we started,” he said.
“Although we were exhausted, we would have continued working hard and to bring our tasks to a conclusion. If only I could have gotten to the last leg as Prime Minister.”
He added that he had no choice but to resign as he was adhering to the Federal Constitution, which stipulated that he had to do so after losing majority support.
Muhyiddin also hoped that the new government would continue the efforts taken on the Covid-19 front.
He added that neither he nor his former ministers had taken any leave since day one because they were concerned with the people’s lives and welfare.
“I felt responsible for every death and suicide. This should not be on my shoulders, I know, but as the Prime Minister, I felt it,” he said.
Asked if he would offer himself as a candidate as the new Prime Minister, Muhyiddin said he did not know, but added that he would focus on strengthening his party for the coming elections.
“I will have a lot of free time and we will get our machinery set up and let the people make the choice in the elections,” he said.
He added that while many had been wary of his Malay-Muslim majority government when they first started, they had aided Malaysians of all races.
“We served all, regardless of creed and colour,” he said.
