ANWAR Ibrahim said he has the numbers to form a federal government in a midday announcement, adding that the Perikatan Nasional government has fallen.

“I have a strong, formidable and convincing majority to form the government.

“I have full support, that is convincing from the parliamentarians, to present to the Agong. The majority support is from Malay Muslim parliamentarians.

“With the firm majority… Muhyiddin’s government has fallen,” he said at a press conference today.

The PKR president said he had already spoken to Yang di-Pertuan Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah last night via phone call, after the king was admitted to Institut Jantung Negara.

However, he did not disclose the number of lawmakers who had aligned themselves to his party.

The Port Dickson MP said he will disclose the numbers when he presents himself to the king.

“This is not a backdoor government,” Anwar said.

“This is a government with a mandate and support. Those who decided to join it will accept this government, respect good governance, the rule of law, and oppose corruption.

“It is inclusive of all races and religions, this is a very clear position and I am not prepared to compromise,” he said.

Anwar also said Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his party Pejuang had not yet decided to join him.

“He may decide later, but for now no,” he said.

Anwar also extended an olive branch to Muhyiddin, saying the Bersatu president will be rewarded if he co-operates.

“Muhyiddin has fallen as PM. I invite him to work together, I bear no animosity towards him.

“If he is ready to co-operate, he will be rewarded,” Anwar said.

Seven months ago, Anwar lost out by a thin majority to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to form the government when Dr Mahathir Mohamad resigned after his Bersatu party aligned itself with Umno, PAS and a bloc of Sarawak lawmakers.

This is the second September that Anwar says he is in a position to form a government. The first was in 2008, when the then administration led by Abdullah Ahmad Badawi lost the traditional Barisan Nasional parliamentary two-thirds supermajority.

Muhyiddin pulled Bersatu out of Pakatan Harapan (PH) on February 24, and Dr Mahathir announced his resignation as prime minister hours thereafter.

This caused the collapse of the 22-month old PH government, allowing Muhyiddin to become the prime minister with the support of Umno, PAS and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).

However, Bersatu was at loggerheads with Umno after the latter did not want to be a formal part of PN, instead inviting Bersatu to join it and PAS in Muafakat Nasional (MN).

With Bersatu’s entry, MN’s three Malay parties form the backbone of the government, with GPS, MCA, MIC and several Sabah parties in support.

Sources allege GPS is unhappy with PN and has decided to switch its allegiance to Anwar.

GPS has 18 seats in Parliament. PKR has 38 seats, DAP has 42 seats and Amanah 11 seats. – September 23, 2020.