[UPDATE] Muhyiddin wants Anwar to prove he has enough SDs to form govt

KUALA LUMPUR – After being overlooked by the Istana Negara to form the federal government, Perikatan Nasional (PN) has now challenged Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to prove he has the support of enough MPs to be prime minister. 

In a press conference at its headquarters today, PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin maintained that he has the statutory declarations (SDs) of 115 MPs that would have accorded him the power to form the government. 

He reiterated that as per required, the SDs have been submitted to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun according to the deadline given by the palace. 

“For the sake of public confidence over Anwar’s legitimacy as prime minister, he should prove that he has the support of the majority of Dewan Rakyat, in line with the process set by the Speaker, which is to present the SDs of support,” he said today.

Muhyiddin was referring to a letter sent by Azhar on November 20 to the leaders of all political parties asking them to state their preferred choice of government, and include the SDs signed by MP on their choice of prime minister. 

Despite this, he noted how the Istana Negara has today confirmed Anwar as the 10th prime minister after supposedly obtaining the support of the majority MPs, with the PH chairman taking his oath of office this evening. 

For the record, in an official statement on Sunday, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had only required party leaders with substantial number of seats to inform the palace of their preferred choice of alliance and prime minister candidate.

The king made no mention of necessitating the signing of SDs. 

With no party enjoying majority support even after the submission of names to the palace, the Agong then on Tuesday held an audience with both Muhyiddin and Anwar proposing a unity government. 

Muhyiddin, however, later told the media that he had rejected the suggestion when presented with a document of agreement by the king. 

Anwar’s appointment as prime minister today ends days of political impasse. It is believed MPs from Barisan Nasional (BN) and several other parties are also set to back the PKR president in forming the government. 

In his presser, Muhyiddin refused to be drawn into questions on whether PN will consider being part of the unity government, despite Anwar's appointment. 

Asked to comment on the 10 SDs belonging to BN MPs supporting him that were later withdrawn, Muhyiddin said this is irrelevant as at the time of submission, the SDs were already submitted to the palace – indicating that he has the majority support. 

“We were only following the orders of the speaker – that MPs must show their backing through SDs, not any other letters from the sky. 

“If Anwar says he has enough support of MPs (and) that led to the Agong announcing him as the prime minister, (then) we want to know. In fact, I’m sure the whole Malaysia wants to know if this is true. What is the proof? 

“This (clarification) is important to avoid any doubt, anxiety and dissatisfaction and for us to know for sure whether the statement is based on the federal constitution or not (sic),” he said. – The Vibes, November 24, 2022