THE Perikatan Nasional minority government has sought a state of emergency because Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has lost confidence of the majority, said Anwar Ibrahim.

“This, I believe to be the real reason why the government is unstable. His (Muhyiddin) position is untenable and there must be an emergency meeting for Parliament to determine the majority is with the opposition,” said the opposition leader in an online press conference today.

Anwar was responding to a question during a livestream media conference today on why Malaysia is in a state of emergency and whether it was called to stop Parliament from sitting. 

Muhyiddin now heads a minority government after two MPs withdrew their support for the Bersatu president this month. There are currently only 110 MPs out of 222 who support him. 

Earlier, Anwar said Pakatan Harapan had sent its appeal to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong yesterday. 

“We are appealing to the king to re-examine the need for an emergency. We also appeal to the king to call for a special Parliament meeting immediately to debate this,” said the PKR president. 

Anwar said the Agong has full power to call for a special Parliament session during an emergency.

He said the PN government appears clueless after announcing the emergency on January 12.

“There have been no specific policies or programmes despite announcing an emergency last week. It has only assumed the power without giving any details,” said the Port Dickson MP. 

“There are no clear policies, a lack of transparency and discussion. Other Asean countries, such as Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand, have already begun their vaccination programmes but there is nothing here,” said Anwar. 

He said there were no discussions with stakeholders on this either. 

PH, meanwhile, will nominate three MPs to sit on the independent committee for emergency, said Anwar. 

“PHsecretary-general Saifuddin Nasution has been in touch with the minister and we will nominate three MPs.” 

Anwar said the opposition delayed sending names as it wanted to clarify what the committee is for. 

“The committee is not on how to manage Covid-19 but is for deciding on when to end the emergency. 

“The committee, we are told, will have four government MPs and three opposition MPs,” he added. – January 20, 2021.