KUALA LUMPUR – Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim asserted today that more than 114 parliamentarians, making up a majority of the present Dewan Rakyat lawmakers, have opposed the government’s move to secure an emergency.
“We have more than 114 or 115 MPs who have rejected the proposal by the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government led by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin,” he said, stressing that the number is “undeniable”.
“Is this total enough? It is more than enough,” the Port Dickson MP and PKR president was quoted as saying by Sinar Harian.
He said that with the total number in hand he intends to submit the rejections to the Agong for his consideration over the government’s emergency proposal and to call for a special parliamentary sitting.
“As a matter of fact, the number (of MPs) at present who have rejected PN’s view in relation to the emergency cannot be denied.”
He said the MPs also rejected the suspension of Parliament that was put in effect with the emergency.
Anwar said that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), which has 18 MPs in the 222-seat lower house, is also discussing the matter but he does not know yet what their decision is.
“But it is a fact that if this (GPS rejection) happens, it would mean that the MPs who are committed to support the emergency and suspension of Parliament would not even add up to 90, or they may even be far less,” he said.
Two parliamentary seats are currently vacant as their MPs have died and by-elections there have been put off due to emergency declarations in the constituencies..
Anwar was speaking during an online dialogue on “The Future of Malaysia: Where Are We Headed?” organised by the National Council of Professors (MPN) which was broadcast live on Facebook.
MPN chief executive officer Datuk Raduan Che Rose also participated, with the council’s fellow Muhammad Asri Mohd Ali acting as moderator.
Anwar, who is Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman, reiterated that he has enough support from among MPs to form a new government.
However, he said the matter needs to wait until the Agong duly receives the information upon his discretion and pleasure.
“For me, if you ask me, the number (we have) at present is adequate (to take over).”
On January 12, Istana Negara announced that Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had consented to a nationwide emergency, to be in place until August 1, to curb Covid-19.
The announcement came a day after Muhyiddin declared that reimposition of the movement control order (MCO) in several states to control the pandemic.
The MCO has since been expanded to cover all states except Sarawak.
Meanwhile, Kuching, Miri and Sibu are placed under MCO. – The Vibes, January 23, 2021
