PETALING JAYA: Four Parti Pejuang Tanah Air MPs will not support the Perikatan Nasional government nor have they signed statutory declarations in support of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister.

       Pejuang information chief Ulya Aqamah denied speculation that the party was cooperating or negotiating with any quarters to support the Perikatan government.

       "Pejuang has never signed any SDs in support of Muhyiddin. The circulation of statements saying otherwise is false and irresponsible," said Ulya in a statement on Wednesday (Aug 4).

       The four Pejuang MPs are Langkawi MP Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Jerlun MP Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, Kubang Pasu MP Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah and Sri Gading MP Datuk Shahruddin Md Salleh.

       Ulya said the Pejuang MPs would focus on efforts and issues concerning public health and the economy faced by Malaysians at large.

       On Wednesday afternoon, Muhyiddin, in a special address to the nation, said a motion of confidence would be tabled in Parliament to test his majority as prime minister.

       The first meeting of the fourth session of the 14th Parliament will sit for 15 days from Sept 6 to 30.

       The special address came following an announcement by Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi that 11 Umno MPs have retracted their support for the Perikatan government.

       However, Muhyiddin said eight Umno MPs had retracted their support for him as prime minister.

       Questions were also raised on Muhyiddin's current Parliamentary majority as Perikatan had the support of 114 MPs before the eight Umno MPs withdrew their support.

       The 114 MPs comprise Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (31), PAS (18) and Sabah STAR (one), as well as 18 MPs from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and PBS (one) and four independents.

       There are 42 MPs from Barisan Nasional that consists of Umno (38), MCA (two), MIC (one) and PBRS (one).

       There was speculation that Pejuang was giving its support to Perikatan following a lengthy opinion piece by Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz published on Malay Mail Online, where he hoped all political parties would set aside differences to battle Covid-19.

       Tengku Zafrul said he will be inviting the Opposition to give their feedback on the National Recovery Plan (NRP) and said that despite Pejuang's rejection, he would continue to reach out and engage all sides.