Anwar says has 'strong, formidable, convincing' majority to form government

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today announced in a press conference that he has obtained a "strong, formidable and convincing" support from members of Parliament to form a government.

The Port Dickson parliamentarian claimed that he was supposed to have a meeting with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah yesterday morning but the meeting had to be postponed as the King was receiving treatment at the National Heart Institute (IJN).

He claimed that with the support he has, this means the government currently being led by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has collapsed.

Anwar however declined to reveal the number of MPs that have pledged support, saying only that he wanted to present the numbers to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong first.

"I have received a formidable and convincing support from members of parliament to be presented to the Agong and majority of the MPs who support me are Malay-Muslim MPs.

"For your information, I was granted an audience with the Agong on Tuesday at 11am but it was postponed since the Agong is currently being treated at the IJN.

"With this strong and convincing majority, at this moment, it means that the government led by Muhyiddin has fallen," he told reporters at the Le Meridien Hotel, here, today.

Anwar claimed that he has obtained the support of "close to" two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat, which include MPs currently part of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.

"I am not talking about a four or five or six majority. It is much more than that. Close to (two-thirds majority) so it is definitely not a small majority.

"The MPs who have voiced their support for me come from various parties and of course some of them are part of the (PN) government. Let them respond to this on their own instead of me revealing all the details."

Asked if former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad would be part of his soon-to-be-formed government as claimed, Anwar said the Langkawi MP had yet to pledge support.

According to the PKR president, a coalition would be formed with new partners, adding that he has been working on getting the numbers over the past few months.

When asked if some of his new partners involved Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs, Anwar said: "Of course it includes some of their MPs."

Should Anwar's claim come true, this would be the second time Malaysia changes government this year.

In late Feb, the elected Pakatan Harapan government was overthrown when some of its MPs joined forces with BN and Pas to form the current loose Perikatan Nasional administration, led by Muhyiddin.

The change of government occurred while the country was battling the Covid-19 pandemic.

Source: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/09/626586/anwar-says-has-strong-formidable-convincing-majority-form-government