PETALING JAYA: An interim government would be the best solution to the country’s current problems, but it cannot stay longer than six months, says Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

       The Pekan MP from Umno backed his party’s move to withdraw its support for Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and make way for a new leadership that could help the country effectively deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, assist people’s livelihoods and achieve herd immunity.

       “It is not just the best solution, but the only solution for the people’s sake in the long- and short-term,” he said on Facebook on Thursday (July 8).

       He said the solution also fulfils the wishes of the King and other Malay Rulers last month to have a stable government that has the support and confidence of the people.

       However, he said the interim government should have clear commitments and only be in power for three to six months because it can also be seen as a “backdoor government” that was not elected by the people.

       “We cannot solve our problems by replacing an unstable 'backdoor government' with a slim majority that was built on treachery and 'frogs' with another 'backdoor government' with a slim majority built on treachery and 'frogs',” he said, adding that the current Parliament will automatically be dissolved in less than two years before a new round of general election is called.

       Najib added that people have lost confidence with the current leadership, as they feel it is not doing its best to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, but instead has a hidden political agenda that is driving it to prolong the country’s problems.

       Najib also said Umno and Barisan Nasional are not afraid to face the people when the time comes and said its rivals in Perikatan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan should feel the same way if they believe they have the people's support and confidence in the strength of their own leadership.

       Early Thursday (July 8) morning, Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that the party would withdraw its support for Muhyiddin after a virtual supreme council meeting on Wednesday (July 7) night that stretched to the wee hours of Thursday.

       Ahmad Zahid said Muhyiddin had failed to fulfil two requirements the party had set to justify its support for the Prime Minister which were to realise the people’s aspirations and strengthen the country’s economy by coming up with an effective action plan to deal with the pandemic.

       Umno rescinded its support hours after Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein’s appointment as a Senior Minister, who will also be leading the security cluster.