SHAH ALAM: Perikatan Nasional's victory in the six state elections, with the coalition making inroads in Penang, Selangor and Negri Sembilan, was a "big" slap for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Perikatan Nasional chairman and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Anwar and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi must take responsibility for the outcome of the polls by resigning from their respective posts.
"The voters have decided, and the state elections are a referendum (of voters rejecting) the unity government.
"Anwar and his deputy Ahmad Zahid Hamidi must take moral responsibility and step down," he said at a Press conference at the coalition's election war room, greeted by shouts of referendum by PN members.
He said PN had won about 60 per cent or 146 out of the 245 state seats it contested.
Muhyiddin said the elections' outcome was proof of Malay voters' rejection of the unity government led by Anwar and Zahid.
He added that PN's achievement of retaining Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan was proof that Malay voters were supporting it.
"We're also making inroads, especially in Selangor, with 22 seats compared to the five seats (won in the 2018 state election).
"With this victory, we have denied a two-thirds majority in Selangor that was said to be PH's stronghold."
He said PN's elected representatives would become a strong opposition in the three states it had lost to PH-BN.
"We'll continue our efforts to serve even in states we did not win. We won't neglect the states that we lost.
"In Selangor, for instance, we have 22 assemblymen out of the 56 seats."
Whether Selangor PN chairman Datuk Seri Azmin Ali would be made the opposition leader in the state assembly, Muhyiddin replied: "Wait (for the announcement)," as he left the stage.
Anwar, who is Pakatan Harapan chairman, leads the unity government with BN chairman Zahid as his deputy.
