[UPDATED] Anwar to table vote of confidence in Parliament on Dec 19

KUALA LUMPUR – To allay any concerns on the legitimacy of his administration, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will table a vote of confidence when Parliament convenes next month.

“I have decided that Parliament will convene this December 19 and the first agenda during the sitting is for me to table a vote of confidence (on my leadership),” he said to a crowd of some 1,000 people at the Sg Long Golf and Country Club clubhouse tonight.

He said his unity government consists of the largest bloc in the Dewan Rakyat, comprising Pakatan Harapan (PH), Barisan Nasional, and Gabungan Parti Sarawak lawmakers. 

He also welcomed any other parties that wish to join his government so long as their values of good governance and firm stance against corruption are aligned.

This is after Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin challenged Anwar to prove that he has enough support via a vote of confidence.

Earlier today, Muhyiddin claimed that he had the statutory declarations of 115 MPs that would have accorded him the power to form the government.

Anwar was speaking at his first press conference after being sworn in as prime minister, held at Sg Long Golf and Country Club.

The PH chairman and Tambun MP also assured that his government will continue the reform agenda and uplift vulnerable communities, especially in Sabah and Sarawak.

“No one will be marginalised under my administration,” said Anwar.

He also briefly explained that his unity administration will table a “new or revised” federal budget soon.

When pressed whether those with ongoing court cases will be made federal ministers, Anwar said the matter has not been discussed, at least from the perspective of the unity government.

He also said that he will factor in adequate representation of parties in his unity government in deciding on who would be best to be appointed as his deputy prime ministers.

The new prime minister also assured that Malaysia would continue to strengthen bilateral ties with neighbouring nations.

To a question from a journalist from China, Anwar stressed that the country remains an important trading partner to Malaysia.

He also declared that the coming Monday (November 28) will be a public holiday. His announcement was greeted by thunderous applause from the gathered crowd.

Anwar was sworn in as Malaysia’s 10th prime minister earlier today after a week-long political impasse stemming from the November 19 general election that saw no major coalition command a simple majority to form the government. – The Vibes, November 24, 2022