Muhyiddin who is now with the opposition, as the president of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), said this in an open letter, posted on his Facebook page, to the state ruler, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar.
According to Muhyiddin, he felt the need to clear his name and respond publicly to the sultan as the latter’s remarks had led many to believe it was meant for him.
In a speech on Thursday, the sultan had said that the current state administration under Menteri Besar Khaled Nordin has made the state more prosperous, comparing it with the achievements of past administrations.
Sultan Ibrahim said this was because he has a good relationship with Khaled, unlike with the “two previous menteris besar who were arrogant”.
In his “open letter”, Muhyiddin defended his actions after his sacking from Umno and the government.
“I have been accused of being proud and arrogant when I am no longer in the government after being sacked from my posts as the deputy prime minister and Umno’s deputy president, for fighting against (Prime Minister) Najib (Razak).
“What I have done all this while is merely to defend the people and the country from the damage done by Najib.
“If I am said to be proud and arrogant because I fight to uphold the truth and oppose treachery, to protect the interests of the people and the country, then let the public be the judge,” Muhyiddin wrote.
The Pagoh MP also defended his record as Johor menteri besar, and throughout his term as state Umno chief.
Muhyiddin said under his leadership, the state government had managed its funds well.
“The state funds were in surplus and we had more money to spend,” he added in denying the ruler’s comment that in the past, the state had not been able to pay its civil servants.
“The state’s economy grew at an average annual rate of 6.7% between 1991 and 1995. In the same period, the gross monthly household income increased from RM1,152 to RM2,138, and the poverty rate was successfully reduced from 9.8% to 3.1%.
“This showed that the people of Johor had enjoyed economic growth when I was the menteri besar.”
Muhyiddin also attributed the good relationship he had with the federal government, led by then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, as the reason the state had benefited a lot, including by receiving many federal grants.
Saying he never wavered in his efforts for the state even as deputy prime minister, Muhyiddin recalled a conversation shortly after Sultan Ibrahim’s installation as the new state ruler.
“I still remember when I was the deputy prime minister and Your Majesty had just become the sultan. Your Majesty asked me to advise Your Majesty on how to make Johor even more developed.”
Muhyiddin claimed that when he was sacked from his ministerial posts in July 2015, Sultan Ibrahim had expressed sympathy over what had happened.
“Clearly, Your Majesty was upset by Najib’s action in removing me.”