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Updated: October 18, 2020 7:39:26 am
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim leaves the National Palace after meeting the King, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on October 13, 2020 (Reuters Photo: Lim Huey Teng).
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim launched his claim to the post of prime minister on Tuesday when he formally presented documents to the king in an attempt to show that he has won majority support in parliament to form a new government. .
Whats Next?
King Al-Sultan Abdullah was scheduled to meet with leaders of key political parties to assess Anwar’s claim for majority support. The king carried out a similar process in February before appointing current Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to the post.
But the national palace postponed all of the king’s meetings as the partial shutdown began Wednesday in the capital Kuala Lumpur and neighboring Selangor state amid a surge in coronavirus cases.
The palace said the process could resume at some point after coronavirus restrictions are lifted, during which time the king would check with other political leaders if Anwar really has their backing to be prime minister.
The king could then appoint Anwar as prime minister if he is convinced that he has the support of the majority in parliament, or he could dissolve parliament and launch elections with the prime minister’s council.
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The Kingmaker
The former ruling United Malaysia National Organization (UMNO) party is seen as a key player and who they back could very well make, or break, Anwar’s chances of securing the prime ministerial post. UMNO is the largest bloc in Muhyiddin’s seven-month administration, which has so far survived with a two-seat parliamentary majority.
But the leaders of the UMNO party have become increasingly unhappy with having to follow the instructions of a prime minister from a minority party.
UMNO announced Tuesday night that it would stop supporting the Muhyiddin government unless it agrees to some new conditions, and some party leaders later said it would not be surprising if they decided to back Anwar.
“UMNO is just not used to playing a secondary role, which is the main cause of the leadership challenge. By backing Anwar, the party could demonstrate its ability to decide who becomes prime minister, “said Adib Zalkapli, director of political risk consultancy BowerGroupAsia.
What if Anwar becomes PM?
If the king appointed Anwar as prime minister, that would make him the country’s third leader this year after Muhyiddin replaced veteran leader Mahathir Mohamad.
But Anwar would have very little time to set up a new administration and, more importantly, draw up a national budget that analysts say should be able to underpin the recovery after the export-dependent economy took a beating from the pandemic of coronavirus.
The Muhyiddin administration is scheduled to present its 2021 Budget on November 6.
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“Anwar will have to rely heavily on the bureaucracy if he takes over anytime soon, and any plans / measures announced (by Muhyiddin) will likely continue,” said Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, senior associate at political and political risk consulting. Vriens & Partners. “This is not a policy change, just a policy change.”
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