KUALA LUMPUR – PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today claimed majority support in Parliament and insisted that the current administration of Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin "has collapsed".
He said that he had a phone conversation with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, who is currently warded for treatment at the National Heart Institute.
He also said that he was in fact scheduled to have an audience with the Agong, yesterday morning, but it had to be postponed due to the medical treatment.
When Parliament convened on July 14, Muhyiddin, who is Bersatu president, commanded the support of 111 MPs while Pakatan Harapan (PH) had 109.
Anwar, who is presently parliamentary opposition leader, claimed that PH enjoys the support of close to two-thirds of MPs, but refused to divulge exact numbers. He explained that this would only be done after he seeks an audience with the Agong.
“Conclusively, we have a strong, formidable and convincing majority. We are not talking about five or six MPs, we are talking about much more than that. Close to two-thirds. We have lawmakers from various parties.
“I will announce the numbers after I inform the Agong. The ruler should be the first to be informed. Suffice for me to say it is not a small majority,” he said in a special press conference, here, today.
He added that he also has the support of the majority of the Malay Muslim MPs.
Also present were his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is the former deputy prime minister and former PKR president, and PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Safuddin Nasution Ismail.
Asked if Wan Azizah will assume any position in a possible new government under him, Anwar said she will not be the deputy prime minister, and "she will just be an advisor, my lover, and of course my wife."
Muhyiddin is scheduled to give a live address to the country, supposedly on the Covid-19 issue, at 2.30pm.
In an immediate reaction, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu confirmed that all 11 Amanah MPs will support Anwar's leadership.
Earlier this morning, an invitation the media was sent out by party communications director Fahmi Fadzil, informing that a press conference will be held at Hotel Le Meridien here.
On Saturday, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng had expressed his support that Anwar, who is the federal opposition leader, would be able to garner the numbers to obtain the majority in the Dewan Rakyat, and that he remains the number one choice for prime minister should Pakatan Harapan regain federal power.
Anwar had himself said Sunday that he was confident of getting enough support from MPs to be the next premier if PH returns to power in the next general election.
The timing of this “important announcement” is also rather peculiar, just three days before Sabahans go to the polls this Saturday.
Muhyiddin had said recently that if Perikatan Nasional, which he heads, is able to win in the Sabah state elections, the pact might push for snap elections. – The Vibes, September 23, 2020
More to Come
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