KUALA LUMPUR – Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has expressed concern over the racial rhetoric being whipped up by certain “desperate” parties as the nation awaits the formation of a new government.
He added that the bid to form a responsible and stable government should not end in chaos as the Malays, Chinese, Indians, Orang Asli, and Sabah and Sarawak tribes are peace-loving Malaysians.
In a statement, he also welcomed Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani’s warning, which cautioned social media users against creating tension or provocation that could threaten public safety and order.
The top cop said this after police detected social media users uploading content with racial or religious sentiments and insults towards the royal institution following the results of the 15th general election and the ongoing process of forming the government.
“Police, in calling for restraint, are warning social media users to refrain from abusing the platform to spread provocative content that may cause public alarm,” he said in a statement last night.
In a surprise appearance outside Gate 2 of Istana Negara, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah called on Malaysians to remain patient as the nation’s political turmoil continued.
He also stressed that the caretaker government remained functional and was operating as per normal.
Istana Negara yesterday had extended the deadline for parliamentarians to submit a prime minister candidate and the coalitions which would form the federal government.
Comptroller of the Royal Household Datuk Seri Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin reiterated in a statement that all political parties and coalition leaders must notify Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun of their decisions before 2pm today.
The race to Putrajaya remains open as no coalition or party won 112 seats, which is the simple majority in the Dewan Rakyat.
After the tallying of votes over the weekend, PH and its partners have won 82 seats, followed by Perikatan Nasional’s 73, Barisan Nasional’s 30, Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s 23, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah’s six, Warisan’s three, Parti Bangsa Malaysia and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat’s one each, and two independents.
Meanwhile, the election for the Padang Serai parliamentary seat will be held on December 7 following the sudden death of PH’s candidate and incumbent M. Karupaiya on November 16, three days before polling day. – The Vibes, November 22, 2022
