The Kelantan Umno chief added that the move should also not be seen as a call for a snap general election.

“Following my announcement yesterday, I can honestly say that my decision (to withdraw support for Muhyiddin) was not influenced by any quarters,” he said in a statement today.

“I did it from the bottom of my heart for the sake of the rakyat and my party.

“In my press conference (yesterday), I did not even touch on the issue of the next general election nor did I pledge my support for anyone.”

Jazlan’s move now leaves only 111 MPs supporting the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government in the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat.

Ahmad is the second Umno MP to withdraw their support for Muhyiddin, after Gua Musang’s Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, also from Kelantan.

Ahmad Jazlan tendered his resignation as the Malaysian Palm Oil Board chairman last Monday to show his unwillingness to work with PN.

He also used today’s statement to reiterate the nine reasons he withdrew his support for the Muhyiddin-led PN government during a press conference yesterday.

Apart from PN’s inability to manage the Covid-19 pandemic, Ahmad said the government could not attract foreign investment, was unable to address rising unemployment and did not look into the financial concerns of the M40 category.

He also said the government’s unwillingness to heed advice from Umno and Barisan Nasional regarding the loan moratorium and Employees Provident Fund withdrawals was one of the reasons Umno MPs were withdrawing support for PN.

Among the other reasons he cited for pulling his support for Muyhiddin were the “stealing” of Umno members by PPBM, as well as the lack of attention paid to the case of deceased firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim and to students in institutions of higher learning.