GEORGE TOWN – PKR is willing to meet Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah as a recourse to the political uncertainty in the wake of its president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s move to assume power in Putrajaya.
Secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said he is open to meeting the Umno veteran as they both want the country to overcome the imbroglio.
Tengku Razaleigh, 83, was invited by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to Istana Negara on Tuesday for a discussion on matters related to the current political situation.
The meeting took place three hours after Anwar had an audience with the Agong to show the purported majority support he has from among MPs to form a new government.
Speculation has emerged that Tengku Razaleigh, popularly known as Ku Li, is willing to assume the role of caretaker prime minister to bring stability to the country should he be called to do so.
He served as a federal minister from 1976 to 1987, and was the founding chairman of Petronas.
Tengku Razaleigh is the longest-serving parliamentarian in the world, having been an MP since 1974, and is among the most senior active politicians after former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, 95.
On Wednesday, his office made public his letter dated September 25 to the Dewan Rakyat speaker seeking a fresh motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Saifuddin Nasution said the main premise of the issue is the “numbers game”, referencing the actual support from among MPs.
“Anwar has demonstrated that he has the numbers in the form of individual statutory declarations and signed letters from the heads of political parties.”
Muhyiddin used a similar format to be appointed prime minister when he was summoned to the palace in February, he added.
He said Anwar is undertaking Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) struggle with a strong belief that the people’s mandate in the 2018 general election was “literally stolen” by “backdoor politicians” in February.
“He is just reclaiming the people’s mandate with other elected representatives, including many Malay leaders, who feel the same.”
PH components Amanah and DAP remain committed to this cause, said Saifuddin Nasution. – The Vibes, October 16, 2020
