TAMBUNAN, Sabah: Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Friday (Sep 25) questioned Anwar Ibrahim’s claim that he has obtained majority parliamentary support to form a new government.
Mr Muhyiddin said the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president has not specified the number of Members of Parliament (MPs) who are supposedly backing him.
"He made a statement and when asked on the number supporting him and who have given their (Statutory declaration) SD of support, he merely said to wait for the answer.
"But until today I myself also do not know (the number). His claim may or may not be true," said Mr Muhyiddin at a Perikatan Nasional (PN) rally on Friday.
Mr Anwar, who is Malaysia's opposition leader, announced on Wednesday that he had secured a "strong, formidable, convincing majority" of MPs to form a government to replace the current administration led by Mr Muhyiddin.
Mr Muhyiddin said all the MPs from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) have confirmed their support for his government and denied backing Mr Anwar.
Several UMNO MPs said to be supporting Mr Anwar have also denied backing him, said Mr Muhyiddin.
“In the few days following (Anwar’s) announcement, many statements of denial have been issued by UMNO MPs. They are not on the list.
“With their denials, I have become more doubtful (of his claim). Maybe it’s just a political statement,” he said.
Mr Muhyiddin said that Attorney-General Idrus Harun has also told him that he remains as Malaysia's prime minister.
“Maybe when the king is shown evidence (of support), if there is, then His Majesty would definitely summon me for an audience but until now I have not been called,” he said.
Meanwhile, PN's secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin described Mr Anwar’s claim as nothing more than a political gimmick.
He said it was merely Mr Anwar's "September dream" to become prime minister.
“The claim was not backed by evidence, the number of seats. In fact, our leaders who were supposedly in the list supporting Anwar have denied the matter,” Mr Hamzah said.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's King Sultan Abdullah will not be granting an audience to anyone for a week as he is under observation at a hospital, a palace official said on Friday (Sep 25), as opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim seeks a meeting with him to form a new government.
Anwar said this week he has secured a "strong, formidable" majority from lawmakers in parliament to oust Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. But he has to convince the king that he has the numbers to form a government.
The political turmoil comes just seven months after another power struggle that led to Muhyiddin getting the premiership and could delay efforts to stabilise an economy that is reeling from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Muhyiddin, who has a razor-thin majority in parliament, has dismissed Anwar's claims of a majority and challenged him to prove it through a constitutional process.
The king plays a largely ceremonial role in Malaysia but he could appoint a prime minister who in his view is likely to command a majority in parliament. He could also dissolve parliament and trigger elections on the premier's advice.
"His Majesty has been advised by his doctors to remain at (hospital) for seven days for observation. So until then, he will not have any meetings," palace comptroller Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin told Reuters.
Anwar was scheduled to meet with the king on Tuesday but the appointment had to be cancelled as the king was unwell and had to be taken to a hospital.
No major political party has come out in his support but the leader of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the largest party in the ruling coalition, said there had been defections to Anwar's camp.
In a campaign speech in Sabah state, Prime Minister Muhyiddin again questioned Anwar's claim that he has a majority, state news agency Bernama reported.
"He made a statement and when asked on the number supporting him and who have given their statutory declaration of support, he merely said to wait for the answer," Muhyiddin said.
UNITED NATIONS: China on Thursday (Sep 24) lashed out at the United States at a high-level United Nations meeting over its criticism on the coronavirus, with its envoy declaring, "Enough is enough!"
Two days after President Donald Trump used his annual address to the General Assembly to attack China's record, its ambassador to the UN, Zhang Jun, strongly criticised the US role in global affairs.
"I must say, enough is enough! You have created enough troubles for the world already," he told a Security Council meeting on global governance attended through video conference by several heads of state.
"The US has nearly seven million confirmed cases and over 200,000 deaths by now. With the most advanced medical technologies and system in the world, why has the US turned out to have the most confirmed cases and fatalities?" he asked in English.
"If someone should be held accountable, it should be a few US politicians themselves."
Using a phrase often told by US leaders to China, Zhang said, "The US should understand that a major power should behave like a major power."
The United States "is completely isolated," he said in remarks enthusiastically backed by his Russian counterpart.
Speaking earlier in the session, the US ambassador to the United Nations, Kelly Craft, voiced anger at the tone.
"You know, shame on each of you. I am astonished and I am disgusted by the content of today's discussion," Craft said.
"I am actually really quite ashamed of this Council - members of the Council who took this opportunity to focus on political grudges rather than the critical issue at hand. My goodness."
China suppressed news of the respiratory disease when it first emerged last year in Wuhan and initial advice played down the risks of transmission.
China's communist leaders have more recently tried to transform the narrative into one of the country's success in stopping the virus.
Trump's response to the pandemic - which he has provocatively called the "China virus" - has emerged as a major political issue as he seeks a new term in the Nov 3 election.
AFRICANS SEEK DEBT RELIEF
With concerns over COVID-19 upending global travel, the UN General Assembly went virtual for its annual extravaganza, which usually brings 10,000 people into a congested section of midtown Manhattan.
Several African leaders used their virtual addresses to the General Assembly to plead for more international assistance, fearing that COVID-19 will impede development.
"Our nations are asking for financial support that rises to the level of the economic crisis they're witnessing," said Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou.
"Just a debt moratorium will not be enough faced with the challenges that have arisen. We simply have to cancel the debt completely," he said, reiterating a call made Tuesday by his counterpart from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi.
The Group of 20 major economies in mid-April suspended debt payments for the poorest nations through the end of the year as they face major budget shortfalls due to the Covid shutdown.
The African Union is seeking to extend the moratorium through 2021, warning of dire economic effects from the health crisis.
"This pandemic could erase more than a decade of economic growth and social progress achieved by the African continent," Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara said.
Despite the economic concerns, Africa has been one of the regions least affected in health terms by COVID-19, with the continent reporting 1.8 million cases and 34,500 deaths.
UNITED NATIONS: China on Thursday (Sep 24) lashed out at the United States at a high-level United Nations meeting over its criticism on the coronavirus, with its envoy declaring, "Enough is enough!"
Two days after President Donald Trump used his annual address to the General Assembly to attack China's record, its ambassador to the UN, Zhang Jun, strongly criticised the US role in global affairs.
"I must say, enough is enough! You have created enough troubles for the world already," he told a Security Council meeting on global governance attended through video conference by several heads of state.
"The US has nearly seven million confirmed cases and over 200,000 deaths by now. With the most advanced medical technologies and system in the world, why has the US turned out to have the most confirmed cases and fatalities?" he asked in English.
"If someone should be held accountable, it should be a few US politicians themselves."
Using a phrase often told by US leaders to China, Zhang said, "The US should understand that a major power should behave like a major power."
The United States "is completely isolated," he said in remarks enthusiastically backed by his Russian counterpart.
Speaking earlier in the session, the US ambassador to the United Nations, Kelly Craft, voiced anger at the tone.
"You know, shame on each of you. I am astonished and I am disgusted by the content of today's discussion," Craft said.
"I am actually really quite ashamed of this Council - members of the Council who took this opportunity to focus on political grudges rather than the critical issue at hand. My goodness."
China suppressed news of the respiratory disease when it first emerged last year in Wuhan and initial advice played down the risks of transmission.
China's communist leaders have more recently tried to transform the narrative into one of the country's success in stopping the virus.
Trump's response to the pandemic - which he has provocatively called the "China virus" -- has emerged as a major political issue as he seeks a new term in the Nov 3 election.
AFRICANS SEEK DEBT RELIEF
With concerns over COVID-19 upending global travel, the UN General Assembly went virtual for its annual extravaganza, which usually brings 10,000 people into a congested section of midtown Manhattan.
Several African leaders used their virtual addresses to the General Assembly to plead for more international assistance, fearing that COVID-19 will impede development.
"Our nations are asking for financial support that rises to the level of the economic crisis they're witnessing," said Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou.
"Just a debt moratorium will not be enough faced with the challenges that have arisen. We simply have to cancel the debt completely," he said, reiterating a call made Tuesday by his counterpart from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi.
The Group of 20 major economies in mid-April suspended debt payments for the poorest nations through the end of the year as they face major budget shortfalls due to the Covid shutdown.
The African Union is seeking to extend the moratorium through 2021, warning of dire economic effects from the health crisis.
"This pandemic could erase more than a decade of economic growth and social progress achieved by the African continent," Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara said.
Despite the economic concerns, Africa has been one of the regions least affected in health terms by COVID-19, with the continent reporting 1.8 million cases and 34,500 deaths.
KOTA KINABALU: Some Sabah residents who are set to vote in the state elections were surprised by the claims of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim that he has a parliamentary majority to form a new Malaysian federal government, but they maintained that they will cast their votes based on local issues.
On Wednesday, Mr Anwar announced that he has garnered a "strong, formidable, convincing majority" of Members of Parliament (MPs) to overthrow the current government led by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
Mr Muhyiddin has since said that Mr Anwar needs to prove that he has enough support to form a new government, while stating that he remains the "legal prime minister" of the country.
The tussle for federal power comes as the campaigning for the Sabah state election is reaching its final days, before voters in the Borneo state head to the polls on Saturday (Sep 26).
The frontrunners for the hotly contested election are the Warisan Plus coalition and the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition.
Polling for Sabah state election falls on Sep 26, 2020. (Photo: Bernama)
The incumbent Warisan Plus coalition comprises of Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan), fellow state-based United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) as well as Pakatan Harapan (PH) national parties Democratic Action Party (DAP), Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah).
Meanwhile, state opposition alliance GRS consists of Perikatan Nasional (PN), Barisan Nasional (BN) and other state-based parties such as Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR).
Mr Danny Estermit, a resident at Api-Api constituency where PKR candidate Chistina Liew is the incumbent, told CNA that Mr Anwar’s announcement came as a shock to him, but it would not change his mind on how he will vote on Saturday.
“I think we were all surprised when Anwar announced out of the blue that he now has enough seats to overthrow Muhyiddin. But for Saturday, I am focused on picking a state representative, someone to address concerns on the ground. I am not too concerned with federal matters,” he said.
Mr Estermit added that there was uncertainty as to whether Warisan would support Mr Anwar’s bid, so it was best to wait and see what happens after the state election.
“Datuk Seri Shafie has not said outright if he is behind Anwar or does he support Muhyiddin as PM, so we'd rather not speculate for now,” added the 27-year-old.
Warisan leader Shafie Apdal speaking at an event with youths near Kota Kinabalu. (Photo: Parti Warisan Sabah)
Mr Shafie Apdal, the leader of the Warisan Plus coalition and incumbent chief minister of Sabah, was tight-lipped when asked to comment on whether he supported Mr Anwar.
Speaking to reporters after meeting with youths in Likas on Thursday morning, Mr Shafie said: “I don’t want to respond (to Anwar’s claim). I am very focused on the state election. We have just one or two days to go. I am here to win an election in Sabah.”
“We want support for Warisan in Sabah,” he added.
"FOCUS ON US"
One of those who attended the event, Mr Rozali Johar, a 21-year-old Likas resident who will be voting for the first time, told CNA that he was pleasantly surprised by Mr Anwar’s claim as he believed that the PH government is the rightful coalition to lead Malaysia, as determined by the people during the 2018 general election.
Mr Rozali said: “I was excited when I saw Anwar saying he has enough MPs to overthrow Muhyiddin’s government. The people chose PH (in 2018) so PH should be restored.”
He was also hopeful that Mr Shafie would back Mr Anwar publicly, maybe after the state election is over.
“But for Saturday, I will vote Warisan, because of what the party represents and how it is keen to help youths and address environmental and employment issues,” Mr Rozali added.
Meanwhile, an UMNO supporter in Sulaman, Mr Tokimin Hazziq noted that Mr Anwar had made similar takeover attempts twice, and had failed both times.
“I don’t really listen to what Anwar says, he has said all this before and it never amounted to anything,” said Mr Tokimin.
The 54-year-old acknowledged that he was also shocked when UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on Wednesday that many UMNO and BN MPs have stated their support for Mr Anwar to form a new government.
“That’s strange because none of them have admitted (this) publicly. I would not take what Anwar said seriously because it’s not clear who is (backing) him.
“Even Warisan or Mahathir's party has not said they support him. It is confusing though but for Saturday, let’s ignore peninsular politics and focus on us,” he added.
Former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad and his allies that were removed from Mr Muhyiddin's Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia have announced the formation of a new party called Parti Pejuang Tanah Air.
"I AM STILL STANDING HERE AS PRIME MINISTER"
Mr Muhyiddin was also in Sabah to campaign on behalf of GRS candidates. On Wednesday night, he gave a speech in Luyang to a few hundred residents, where he stressed that Malaysia adopts a parliamentary democratic system that is based on the country’s Constitution.
Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin speaking to Sabah residents on Sep 23, 2020. (Photo: Prime Minister's Office)
“I am still standing here as the prime minister … Every single Malaysian, regardless of their background, is important for me. Because I care for all of you,” he said.
He arrived in Sabah hours after announcing that the federal government would be providing financial aid worth RM10 billion (US$2.4 billion) to further help Malaysians get through the COVID-19 pandemic, under the “Kita Prihatin” scheme.
Political lecturer with Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Dr Romzi Ationg said the announcement could be a “game changer” for Sabah state election as many voters were looking for any help to tide them through financial difficulties.
On the other hand, he said that Mr Anwar’s claims on a federal parliamentary majority could encourage voters who were sitting on the fence to support Warisan Plus, as the coalition could be part of the federal government in the near future.
“The prospect of Warisan being a key component of both the state and federal government could be encouraging, while supporting GRS for the purpose of having a federal and state government in sync could be seen as irrelevant now,” said Dr Romzi.
