KUALA LUMPUR — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin stressed on Monday (March 2) that he is not a traitor, after he was singled out by his predecessor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for leading a new government to replace Pakatan Harapan’s two-year administration.

Mr Muhyiddin said he only took over as prime minister in order to “save the country” from a prolonged political tumult.

“I know there are those who are angry with me. As expected, there are parties who called me a traitor.

“Hear me out. I am not a traitor,” he said in his first address to the nation following his swearing-in.

In his special address titled “An Appeal to the Citizens of Malaysia”, Mr Muhyiddin also explained the events that led to him being sworn in.

On Sunday, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had expressed disappointment in Mr Muhyiddin, whom he claimed had been plotting a government without Pakatan Harapan for a long time.

Dr Mahathir, when asked if he felt disappointed in Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali for his actions that contributed to the weeklong political turmoil, sidestepped and instead took a swipe towards Mr Muhyiddin, president of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.

Dr Mahathir revealed that amid the confusion over the status of his chairmanship in Bersatu, Mr Muhyiddin had taken the liberty to appoint himself chairman, which Dr Mahathir claimed was an illegal move.

A rally to “reject traitors” was also held on Sunday night to protest against Mr  Muhyiddin’s appointment, with attendants exclaiming that he is not their choice as prime minister.

Two speakers during the rally, activists Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir and Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, have since been investigated by the police over their involvement. MALAY MAIL