KUALA LUMPUR – With 15 Umno MPs supporting Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s government has effectively collapsed.
This explains Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s statement earlier today that “many” MPs from his party are behind Anwar and that the party will not prevent any of its lawmakers from supporting the opposition leader in forming a new government.
It resonates with Anwar’s emphasis in his press conference this afternoon that his government will have a strong Bumiputera-Muslim representation.
At the same time, it has the solid support of non-Bumiputera MPs.
With DAP’s 42 MPs solidly behind Anwar, along with Amanah’s 11, Warisan’s nine, United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation’s sole representative and PKR’s 38, Anwar is on course to take over the federal administration.
This is excluding the five MPs now with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Pejuang; Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, who is now an independent; and, two Parti Sarawak Bersatu lawmakers, whose stand is currently unclear.
Sources told The Vibes that the 15 Umno MPs have already given their backing to Anwar to form a new government without any expectation of positions.
However, aides close to the PKR president said at the moment, it would be prudent not to disclose the identities of the Umno MPs.
“Let us wait for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to grant us an audience,” said one source.
Anwar was initially granted an audience with the Agong yesterday, but the meeting was cancelled as His Majesty had to be admitted to the National Heart Institute.
However, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah spoke to Anwar by phone last night to assure the latter that an audience will be granted.
Earlier, PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail told The Vibes that a fresh request has been made to the palace to meet the ruler.
This afternoon, Anwar announced in a special press conference that he has the numbers in Parliament to form a new government, but said further details will be revealed only after his audience with the king.
He said he now enjoys a strong, formidable and convincing majority.
The question now is, will the king accept a new majority government or grant a dissolution of the Dewan Rakyat to pave the way for a general election?
This would be a major consideration what with the Covid-19 pandemic, said a source.
“But surely, with the economic and health crisis that we have now, what is needed is a strong government.”
In his press conference, Anwar dismissed suggestions that his would be another backdoor government.
“This is the rightful government that was elected by the people on May 9, 2018.” – The Vibes, September 23, 2020
