Umno, PAS and Bersatu to meet over Anwar’s claim of ‘formidable’ parliamentary support
Umno, PAS and Bersatu will meet this week over Anwar's claim of having 'formidable' support among lawmakers. ― Pictue by Miera Zulyana
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 — The three main Malay parties — Umno, PAS and Bersatu — will meet this week to discuss PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s claims to have “formidable” support among lawmakers including those from the government’s side.
Sources from Umno and Bersatu confirmed the matter to Malay Mail but would not disclose details of the meeting as some party leaders were under Covid-19 quarantine while others were fatigued from the Sabah state election campaign.
“Umno and PAS will meet over the matter (Anwar’s claim). Then Umno will meet Bersatu.
“The schedule of the meeting is secret but it will be done this week on Wednesday or Thursday,” one source said.
Another source from Bersatu corroborated this but declined to comment as it would contain private and confidential matters.
“Yes, there will be a high-level meeting,” he said.
Anwar claimed sensationally days before the Sabah election to have secured a “formidable” majority with which to form a new government and declared Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s Perikatan Nasional (PN) federal administration effectively collapsed.
However, Anwar did not state the number of MPs he claimed were supporting him, saying he would only do so after an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Though initially seen as a ploy on Anwar’s part, Barisan Nasional chairman and Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi issued a cryptic statement acknowledging support for Anwar from within his coalition and party on the same day as the announcement.
This prompted Muafakat Nasional (MN) ally PAS to publicly demand that Umno and BN explain the matter.
PAS secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said last week that if what Zahid described was true, it would violate the formal accord his party signed with the Malay nationalist party.
In the Pakatan Harapan (PH) presidential council meeting on Monday, reports emerged that DAP was unconvinced that Anwar managed to secure the support of Umno MPs as he inferred through his previous claim.
PH sources told Malay Mail that Anwar still would not disclose how many rival MPs he has won over, only that their backing did not come at a price.
“The support from Umno MPs for Anwar to take over the government is unconditional. However it is dependent on Anwar securing an audience with the King,” said a source from PKR.
Anwar has secured this audience, which Istana Negara confirmed, but it had to be postponed because Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah was admitted to the National Heart Institute before this could take place.
Separately, DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke told news portal Malaysiakini that not much detail was divulged during the meeting.
Officially, only PH component Parti Amanah Negara has confirmed its lawmakers — all 11 — supported Anwar in this.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng reiterated that his party’s 42 MPs would support Anwar’s takeover only if he has the majority to do so.
While rival parties and coalitions have denied supporting Anwar, it is noteworthy that he stressed during his announcement that he has the support of individual MPs rather than parties.
Assuming all of PH supported his bid, Anwar would have 91 seats for the 112 he needed.
Sources from Umno and Bersatu confirmed the matter to Malay Mail but would not disclose details of the meeting as some party leaders were under Covid-19 quarantine while others were fatigued from the Sabah state election campaign.
“Umno and PAS will meet over the matter (Anwar’s claim). Then Umno will meet Bersatu.
“The schedule of the meeting is secret but it will be done this week on Wednesday or Thursday,” one source said.
Another source from Bersatu corroborated this but declined to comment as it would contain private and confidential matters.
“Yes, there will be a high-level meeting,” he said.
Anwar claimed sensationally days before the Sabah election to have secured a “formidable” majority with which to form a new government and declared Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s Perikatan Nasional (PN) federal administration effectively collapsed.
However, Anwar did not state the number of MPs he claimed were supporting him, saying he would only do so after an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Though initially seen as a ploy on Anwar’s part, Barisan Nasional chairman and Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi issued a cryptic statement acknowledging support for Anwar from within his coalition and party on the same day as the announcement.
This prompted Muafakat Nasional (MN) ally PAS to publicly demand that Umno and BN explain the matter.
PAS secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said last week that if what Zahid described was true, it would violate the formal accord his party signed with the Malay nationalist party.
In the Pakatan Harapan (PH) presidential council meeting on Monday, reports emerged that DAP was unconvinced that Anwar managed to secure the support of Umno MPs as he inferred through his previous claim.
PH sources told Malay Mail that Anwar still would not disclose how many rival MPs he has won over, only that their backing did not come at a price.
“The support from Umno MPs for Anwar to take over the government is unconditional. However it is dependent on Anwar securing an audience with the King,” said a source from PKR.
Anwar has secured this audience, which Istana Negara confirmed, but it had to be postponed because Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah was admitted to the National Heart Institute before this could take place.
Separately, DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke told news portal Malaysiakini that not much detail was divulged during the meeting.
Officially, only PH component Parti Amanah Negara has confirmed its lawmakers — all 11 — supported Anwar in this.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng reiterated that his party’s 42 MPs would support Anwar’s takeover only if he has the majority to do so.
While rival parties and coalitions have denied supporting Anwar, it is noteworthy that he stressed during his announcement that he has the support of individual MPs rather than parties.
Assuming all of PH supported his bid, Anwar would have 91 seats for the 112 he needed.
wakakaka I could just picture pas, umno and bersatu crouching on the 100meter starting line in jitters and anwar holding the starter's pistol, don't he just love firing blanks wakakaka
ReplyDeletemalay party, malay pm, malay govt, malay vellfire n merc, still mahu accuse 20% chinese.
ReplyDeleteThe unspoken agreement is Menteri Raba Raba will take over the CM post from Menteri HaJijik if and when he is cleared of corruption charges.
ReplyDeleteTiap tiap hari Anwar bangun pagi, gosok gigi, minum kopi, makan roti kemudian sibuk susun kabinet, susun susun susun, sampai petang, sampai malam, sampai tidur....tak boleh habis kerja-ni...ha ha ha...
ReplyDelete