Tiong (left) pictured together with Muhyiddin in this file photo.
KUCHING: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has accepted Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing’s decision to turn down the National Unity Deputy Minister’s post.
He told a press conference after chairing his first cabinet meeting in Putrajaya today that Tiong, who is Progressive Democratic Party president, had informed him of the decision.
“He (Tiong) has expressed that he’s not willing to accept (the post), that is okay, it is his choice, it is something the Yang diPertuan Agong has consented, but he felt that it is not suitable for whatever reason, we will accept that.
“Of course I have to find another person that will be nominated to the King to fill that position in the Ministry of National Unity.
“In the meantime of course YB Tiong expressed that he still wants to serve the nation in a different capacity. I will be meeting him tomorrow (March 12) and we will talk about it,” Muhyiddin said.
PDP secretary-general Datuk Nelson Balang told The Borneo Post yesterday that the party’s supreme council had decided in a meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Monday that their president should reject the post as it did not befit his position as president of the party.
“He is very senior in terms of his position in the party and has also served a long time as a member of Parliament,” said Balang.
Asked if PDP will recommend Baram MP Anyi Ngau as Tiong’s replacement, Balang said: “I wouldn’t use the word replacement but his name was mentioned during the meeting.”
Tiong and Anyi are PDP’s only MPs