PAKATAN Harapan chairman Anwar Ibrahim said he has demonstrated to the king that he has the parliamentary majority to claim the office of  prime minister.

“I have given a document that contains a list of MPs who support me to the king today,” said Anwar at a press conference at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur today.

“Please give him time to meet with other party leaders to verify the list.”

The PKR president met Yang di-Pertuan Agung Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah in Istana Negara for 30 minutes this morning.

Anwar arrived at the palace at 10.25am and left around 11am.

Anwar said more than 120 MPs have agreed to back him as the prime minister.

On whether Dr Mahathir Mohamad numbered among them, Anwar said the list of names would soon be revealed.

“There are more than 120 MPs. The king will digest the list and he will be calling up party leaders in two to three days’ time.”

“The names of the MPs will be published later. Therefore, I reiterate that Muhyiddin Yassin’s government has fallen,” he declared.

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Olive branch

The Port Dickson MP said he had reached out to Muhyiddin but had not received a reply.

“I have sent an olive branch to discuss and make accommodations but there was no response (from Muhyiddin),” he stated.

On whether he had also offered to work with Dr Mahathir and Pejuang, Anwar said he would not deny anyone a chance to participate in the new governmment.

Anwar announced last month Muhyiddin’s government was ousted as he now had the majority in parliament.

He was scheduled to meet the king afterwards but the meeting was postponed after Sultan Abdullah fell sick.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said at the time that he would not stop his party MPs from backing Anwar.

Several Umno MPs subsequently denied backing Anwar.

Umno’s ally PAS has distanced itself from Anwar while MCA has sworn fealty to Muhyiddin’s Perikatan Nasional governmment.

Dr Mahathir meanwhile said Pejuang had not been invited to join Anwar’s camp.

Dr Mahathir’s reign as prime minister was cut short in February when Muhyiddin took Bersatu out of Pakatan Harapan to join Umno and PAS in a new pact.

He was able to show the king he had a parliamentary majority albeit one that was wafer-thin. – October 13, 2020.