Zahid aware that many Barisan MPs have backed Anwar
I am rightful PM and Perikatan govt stands strong, says Muhyiddin
PETALING JAYA: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says he received information that many Umno and Barisan Nasional MPs have voiced support for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to form a new government.
“I respect their stand,” he said in a brief statement.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Barisan chairman, said Umno and Barisan could not prevent its MPs from supporting Anwar.
“Umno and Barisan are not officially part of Perikatan Nasional.
“Support for the Perikatan government is based on the support of individual MPs only,” he said.
Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said Umno MPs were still supporting Perikatan.
However, he added that to his knowledge, none of them had indicated their support for Anwar.
“Any change in support must be decided by the party,” he said when contacted.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who is the Umno MP from Rembau, tweeted yesterday: “Just finished the Cabinet meeting. Nothing has fallen or collapsed” in an apparent reference to the state of the government.
PETALING JAYA: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin says he remains the country’s legitimate Prime Minister and that the ruling Perikatan Nasional is strong.
He said opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s remarks that he had the majority support of MPs to form a new Federal Government was merely a claim “unless proven otherwise”.
“The claim must be proven through the processes and methods determined by the Federal Constitution. Without that process, the statement by Datuk Seri Anwar is merely a claim.
“Until proven otherwise, the Perikatan Nasional government is still standing strong and I am the legitimate Prime Minister,” Muhyiddin
said in a statement yesterday.
Anwar had held a press conference earlier to state that he had the majority support of MPs to form the next Federal Government.
Muhyiddin urged the people to remain calm.
“God willing, this issue will be dealt with in accordance with the legal process and the Federal Constitution,” he added.
Perikatan parties rallied around the prime minister and labelled Anwar as being “power crazy”.
A joint statement signed by the secretaries-general of Barisan Nasional, PAS, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and STAR dismissed Anwar’s claim.
“All the parties working together in Perikatan such as Barisan, Bersatu, PAS, GPS, PBS and STAR are standing strong in support of the government led by the Prime Minister.
“As such, this coalition that forms the Perikatan government denies the claim by Datuk Seri Anwar that he apparently has the majority to form the government.
“His statement is just cheap publicity that has been done time and time before.
“His latest action exemplifies his greedy and power-crazy behaviour,” the parties said in a joint statement yesterday.
The leaders accused Anwar of not being concerned about the country’s political and economic stability, as well as the welfare of the people who have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We believe the rakyat will rise and reject such politics, and will continue to support the Perikatan government,” the statement read.
God willing, this issue will be dealt with in accordance with the legal process and the Federal Constitution.
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin