In a Facebook post, Zahid pointed out that Muhyiddin, the National Recovery Council (MPN) chairman, previously said a general election should be called citing Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s supposed failure to manage the country and the economy well.

“He (Muhyiddin) is denying his own statement,” said Zahid.

Yesterday, Muhyiddin accused Ismail of being “irresponsible” by blaming him and the 12 PN ministers for making the government untenable and forcing the dissolution of Parliament.

Muhyiddin said Ismail blamed PN because Barisan Nasional (BN) and Umno had come under severe attack from the public by calling for elections during the flood season.

This came after Ismail said his government was divided after the 12 PN ministers wrote to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to object to a general election being held this year.

Zahid said the action of the 12 PN ministers was aimed at humiliating the prime minister as the issue could have been discussed in the Cabinet without taking it to Istana Negara and making it publicly known.

He said the action of the 12 ministers raised doubts about their belief in the prime minister’s leadership.

Ismail could have sacked the 12 ministers, he said, but this would have led to a bigger crisis and shamed the country.

“It could also have led to a vote of no confidence and other things,” he said.

The best way was for the prime minister to seek a dissolution of Parliament and return the mandate to the people, said Zahid.