‘End political charade, call for general election’

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s latest claim that he has majority support to form a new government shows he is putting his interest above the nation at a time when the country needs stability and closure.

Assoc Prof Dr Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk says while it remains a guessing game if Anwar really has the numbers to topple the existing government, a new government cannot be formed by mere negotiations and backdoor meetings.

“(Tan Sri) Muhyiddin (Yassin) became prime minister by accident as there was a power vacuum after (Tun Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad) resigned,” Azeem said.

“But right now, Malaysians are looking for stability. We need closure and if closure means a general election has to be called, then it has to be done.”

“We cannot be changing the government through the backdoor. We must go through the democratic system all over again and this means the party or coalition with the most seats in Parliament will form the government of the day,” said Azeem who is Director, Centre for Policy Research and International Studies in Universiti Sains Malaysia.

Without a Covid-19 vaccine and with people worried about their livelihood given the economic uncertainty, Azeem said the last thing on people’s minds is a change in government.

“Malaysians are sick and tired of politicians doing things that will jeopardise the economy,” he said.

“Many are out of jobs. Pilots are forced to become food delivery men. Those in the hotel and tourism industries want to know when foreigners will be allowed in so they can earn a living.”

He said the onus is on Anwar to show that he has the numbers.

“But right now his claims are unsubstantiated. Who are the MPs with him and where are the statutory declarations?

“Anwar can claim he has the numbers but it is for the King to decide. Until and unless the King gives his blessings, Anwar will not be Prime Minister,” said Azeem.

Asked if the timing of Anwar’s announcement would fan support to swing the votes in the Sabah state election in favour of Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal’s Warisan Plus instead of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah which is backed by Muhyiddin, Azeem said “Anwar has no influence in Sabah.

“He will not determine the outcome of the election there. Sabah’s politics is unique and PKR is not a major political party there.”

Azeem, however, said Anwar was in a precarious situation following a lawsuit filed by a lawyer that the pardon granted to Anwar in 2018 over his sodomy convictions was not done according to law.

“The court hearing on the matter is soon and Anwar has a lot to lose if the case is not in his favour … he might even have to go back to jail,” he said.

“We don’t know what his motives are but his actions will shake the current government. However, in doing so, Anwar has displayed that his self-interest is more important than the nation’s interest,” he added.

This is not the first time Anwar has claimed he has the support to be Malaysia’s next leader. He made similar statements in 2008, claiming he had majority support from MPs to topple the administration of then Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

What others had to say about Anwar’s claims:

Istana Negara

Anwar and his wife Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail were granted an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah yesterday. However, the meeting was postponed as the King was admitted to the National Heart Institute.

Istana Negara’s Comptroller of the Royal Household Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin had in a statement said Al-Sultan Abdullah will continue treatment under the supervision of specialists and that the Ruler had thanked Muhyiddin, Tun Daim Zainuddin, Cabinet ministers and Anwar who had prayed for his well-being.

It remains unclear if Al-Sultan Abdullah will meet Anwar anytime soon.

Muhyiddin Yassin

Muhyiddin said Anwar’s claims of having the majority to form the government must be proven through the process set by the Federal Constitution.

“Without going through that process, Anwar’s statement is merely a claim,” the prime minister said.

“Until proven otherwise, Perikatan Nasional still stands strong and I’m the legitimate prime minister.”

DAP and Amanah

DAP and Amanah issued statements saying their MPs supported Anwar.

DAP has 42 MPs while Amanah has 11 MPs.

The parties said this was in line with the decision made during the Pakatan Harapan presidential council meeting.

Umno

Umno will not stop its MPs from supporting Anwar.

Party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he was informed that “many” Umno and Barisan Nasional MPs have expressed their support for Anwar and that he respected their decision.

GPS and PAS

Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) says it will continue supporting Muhyiddin. PAS has yet to issue an official statement but reports claim the party will continue supporting Perikatan Nasional.

Here’s the round-up of The News Normal today.

RM10B AID FOR MALAYSIANS

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced another round of cash aid – the RM10 billion Kita Prihatin economic stimulus package.
The package is targeted at four groups – the Bottom 40 (B40), Middle 40 (M40), workers and micro businesses.

Muhyiddin added that the Wage Subsidy Programme 2.0 is aimed at helping companies that have recorded a drop in revenue of at least 30 per cent following the partial lockdown.

Companies that qualify for the incentives will be given three months’ subsidy of RM600 a month for each employee (maximum 200 employees) from Oct 1 to Dec 31, 2020.

THREE COVID-19 DEATHS TODAY

There were three Covid-19 deaths today – two in Sabah and one in Kedah – bringing the total number of deaths to 133.

A total of 147 new Covid-19 cases were reported today with 143 local cases and four imported.

A new cluster (Udin Cluster) has also been detected in Sabah.

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