SEBERANG JAYA – The outcome of any election should be left to voters so politicians should not be preoccupied with negotiations about the “numbers” needed to form a government post-election, said PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said this in response to speculations that Pakatan Harapan (PH), which he leads, has entered into a secret pact with Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to form a government if no coalition has the majority to form a government.
Such claims were made by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, who is part of Perikatan Nasional, and later by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Dr Mahathir’s previous party Bersatu was part of PH until the so-called Sheraton Move in February 2020, which led to the collapse of the PH federal government, 22 months after the 2018 general election.
In retaliation, PH’s Tambun candidate Anwar said Dr Mahathir has been proven over time to be an untrustworthy politician.
He also urged Hadi to reflect on the true values of Islam and not resort to spreading lies.
“We have politicians masquerading as ulama (preachers) in this country to deceive the people. One can be a politician and an ulama, just preach the truth, not lies.
“If they say we are working with Umno, where is the proof? Dr Mahathir and Hadi had spread lies to undermine us,” said Anwar before a packed crowd at the mega PH ceramah here last night.
He then urged PH to focus on securing a simple majority to return the coalition to Putrajaya to helm the country.
He said after the PH government collapsed in 2020, he had the necessary “numbers” to form a government as 19 Umno MPs had signed statutory declarations (SD) to support him as prime minister.
“The SDs were sent to the Agong directly hence this is why I kept mum. But do you know the next day, I was asked by (former prime minister Datuk Seri) Najib (Razak) to drop his criminal charges in exchange for support. I refused.
“When I refused, the support for me was withdrawn. So be it, I cannot be a prime minister through the rule of the jungle. We must respect the rule of law.”
Earlier, Penang Chief Minister and state PH chairman Chow Kon Yeow said it takes years and decades to make changes to any political system, adding that PH is here for the long haul.
He also urged PH to not be complacent because rival Barisan Nasional (BN) may have lost its credibility but has the resources. – The Vibes, November 7, 2022
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