Khaled: Dr M ensnared himself, shouldn't blame others

Dr Mahathir Mohamad has no one to blame but himself over his failure to form a new government, Umno vice-president Mohamed Khaled Nordin said.

In a statement, Khaled said Mahathir should not blamed Muhyiddin Yassin as the latter had only attempted to form a government when it was clear no one else could.

He said Mahathir had committed to a plot to stay in power which was poorly planned to begin with.

"(Eventually,) the hunter walked into his own trap," Khaled said.

Moments before Muhyiddin was sworn in as prime minister yesterday, Mahathir accused the former of treachery and betrayal.

"I feel betrayed, mostly by Muhyiddin. He was working on this for a long time and now he has succeeded," said Mahathir.

At a closed-door meeting with Bersatu supporters yesterday, which was inadvertently live-streamed, Mahathir accused Muhyiddin of manufacturing a crisis.

According to Mahathir, Muhyiddin had tried to cause schisms between Bersatu and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.

"Instead, (that didn't happen as) all (Harapan) leaders supported me. He (Muhyiddin) needed a reason to create a crisis.

"When he took (Bersatu) out of Harapan, there is when the crisis started," said Mahathir.

However, Mahathir also said Anwar's attempt to form a government last Wednesday, while knowing well he didn't have the numbers, was partly to blame as well.

Khaled said Mahathir should be appreciative of Muhyiddin's effort to resolve the political crisis that erupted last week.

"Muhyiddin ensured that Bersatu remained united at a time when the country was faced with a crisis after Mahathir resigned from various positions (on Feb 23).

"It was only then did Umno and PAS made a decision to support (Muhyiddin) as prime minister although the two parties had more seats than Bersatu," said Khaled.

Khaled's admission would support claims that Umno and PAS MPs had supported Muhyiddin all the while, including when they were interviewed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong last Tuesday.

This was despite Umno and PAS MPs initially stating publicly that they supported Mahathir to remain as prime minister.

Meanwhile, Khaled advised Mahathir to rest and that the public will forever be in his debt.

"I am certain that the road ahead of Muhyiddin will not be easy. Whether he can face it or not, let the public decide," he said.