opinion

Time to release the ‘X-Files’, Muhyiddin

Jay Jay Denis

When the Deklarasi Rakyat was signed last Friday, all eyes were on Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.

Many were bamboozled as to how the former prime minister managed to gather friends and foes and come out with guns locked, loaded and ready to fire.

It was undoubtedly the biggest gathering of Malaysian leaders (outside of Parliament) since the turn of the century and with the world's media at their feet.

The biggest mover to me, however, was the man seated next to Dr Mahathir, former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

But it should not stop here.

Now is the time for the former number two to unlock the X-files and tell all on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's involvement in the 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.

The Umno MP signed on the declaration and came out publicly calling for his party boss's resignation due to 1MDB and the RM2.6 billion question.

Muhyiddin was the only MP from within Umno to do so publicly.

Fellow dissenters Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal have turned out to be wolf criers for now, backing the declaration but unwilling to put pen to paper and prove themselves.

Supporting the document and signing onto it are two very different matters, and Muhyiddin is the only MP from Umno to sign onto the dotted lines, for now.

In recent memory, there has not been an incident similar to this; an Umno member of the Lower House in Parliament laying the gauntlet down to a sitting Prime Minister.

Former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim turned the guns on Dr Mahathir after he was given the boot from Umno.

On the other hand, Tengku Razaleigh's Semangat 46 was formed after Umno was declared illegal by the courts, paving the way for Umno Baru to be formed, led by then prime minister Dr Mahathir.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin's move is a clear departure from past incidences and this could signal a changing of the guard if he plays his cards right.

But he must strike while the iron is hot and do it before he is eventually thrown out of Umno.

With Parliament being in session, it is the opportune time for the Pagoh MP who is seated smack in the centre of the House, to deliver a raucous speech when debating the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong's address in the coming two weeks.

And being an MP, he is immune as a matter of law from being charged if he speaks in the Dewan.

With the world watching, this could be the perfect time for him to take centre stage and open fire on Najib in Parliament.

MPs from Barisan Nasional could follow if they see the ship as being beyond rescue.

In late February, the Pagoh MP reportedly said, "I know more than you do. I have courage because I am telling the truth. This is based on information I obtained when I was Deputy Prime Minister."

Well, the ball is in your court, Tan Sri. Malaysians want to know what you know.

What say you? – March 9, 2016.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer, organisation or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.