OPPOSITION leader Anwar Ibrahim needs another seven MPs in addition to the 105 already backing him to have majority support to become prime minister, Warisan Youth chief Mohd Azis Jamman said.

He said on Twitter that the Sabah party is ready to support Anwar if he has the “magic number”. 

“Warisan will support DSAI (Anwar Ibrahim) for PM if DSAI can get past the magic number and hope PH (Pakatan Harapan) will give right of first refusal to Shafie if DSAI can’t get past the magic number,” the Sepanggar MP said, referring to Warisan president Mohd Shafie Apdal.

In response to questions by other Twitter users to clarify the “magic number”, Azis said opposition parties currently have 105 MPs and are short of seven more to hit the minimum simple majority of 111 out of 220 MPs. 

Another user @AbdulMu52303682 told Azis to “support la dulu (first) Datuk. The other numbers will come”.

Azis responded: “Yeah la, as of now, we are at 105 including Warisan, Pejuang, Muda, PSB (Parti Sarawak Bersatu) all agree to give DSAI. Seven extra DSAI kena cari (have to find).”

MPs have to submit their statutory declarations (SDs) to Istana Negara by 4pm tomorrow, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun said earlier today in a letter to all lawmakers.

Azhar said he had been ordered by the palace to facilitate the submission of SDs by MPs.

Warisan, which has eight MPs, has in the past displayed reluctance to confirm support for Anwar as the opposition’s prime minister candidate. Shafie was once proposed as an alternative candidate for prime minister should Anwar fail to get the numbers.

Azis revived that scenario in his tweet today while stating Warisan’s support for Anwar being conditional on the PKR president getting enough numbers.

To a Twitter user who asked how two names can be nominated when the palace wants one name on the SDs, Azis replied that Anwar and Shafie should meet face to face and “show cards” before they submit their names to the palace. 

“Whoever gets the highest (number) should be given the chance to write their name on the SD la… do u have any other idea?” he said. – August 17, 2021.