In an interview with FMT last month, Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin panned Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government, calling it “hopeless” for allegedly failing to resolve a host of issues affecting the rakyat.

Fahmi, however, said Muhyiddin is not qualified to criticise the government, citing the Pagoh MP’s failure to deliver on his promise to implement a debt waiver for Felda settlers as a prime example of his own unreliability.

“Sometimes, when I hear statements from Muhyiddin, I cannot bank on them,” Fahmi, the government’s leading spokesman, told FMT in an interview.

“He claimed to have signed documents to write off the loans of Felda settlers. The fundamental question is whether he did it.

“The answer is that you (Muhyiddin) did not sign (off on the waivers). You cannot be relied on,” said Fahmi.

In July 2021, then prime minister Muhyiddin announced that his government had agreed to waive RM8.3 billion in loans taken by Felda settlers, subject to certain conditions being met.

However, last Friday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said none of the debts was waived until he did it himself, brushing aside Muhyiddin’s repeated assertions that the matter was dealt with during his tenure as premier.

“So, to me, before Muhyiddin says anything to anyone, he should take a long hard look in the mirror and realise he is unreliable,” said Fahmi.