BN to back Anwar in confidence vote: Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR – Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says BN will back Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when a vote of confidence is called next month.

On Facebook, Zahid also urged all parties to stop disputing the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decision to appoint Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the new prime minister.

Citing an old Malay idiom, “rumah siap pahat berbunyi” (after the house is completed, the sound of the chisel remains heard), Zahid called on all parties to respect the king’s appointment, which was done in line with the federal constitution.

“We need to move forward together and lead the country towards prosperity and stability,” the Bagan Datuk MP said in a statement on his Facebook.

Zahid, who is also Umno president, added that BN will back Anwar in the Dewan Rakyat during the tabling of a vote of confidence for Anwar’s premiership during the Parliament sitting on December 9.

This, Zahid said, is in order to silence those that continue to question whether Anwar has the backing of the majority of the MPs in Dewan Rakyat.

“God-willing, BN will support the motion for a vote of confidence in the prime minister so that the validity of the prime minister is no longer in question and those who try to dispute it will remain silent.”

Anwar said that the first order of business during next month’s Parliament sitting is for the Pakatan Harapan bloc to propose a vote of confidence on his leadership, as his appointment as the new prime minister has been questioned by Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

“Although some say that this is a risky move by the new prime minister, this is the democratic process that needs to be carried out,” Zahid said, adding that BN will support the move in line with the king’s wish for the formation of a unity government.

In ending the hung Parliament gridlock last week, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah consented to Anwar forming the government.

The new government consists of PH, BN, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Gerakan Rakyat Sabah, as well as other parties such as Muda and Warisan.

Anwar has insisted that his government has secured the 112 parliamentary seats to form the government with a simple majority.

However, Muhyiddin maintained that he had 115 statutory declarations from MPs that supported him to become the prime minister. – The Vibes, November 27, 2022