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PETALING JAYA: Anwar Ibrahim’s position as leader of the opposition and Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) attempt to retake Putrajaya are two separate issues, Amanah communications director Khalid Samad has clarified.
Denying a report that his party has given Anwar a week to overthrow the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, Khalid said the opposition leader’s position could only be decided by consensus among all component parties and not just Amanah.
“We appreciate Anwar’s willingness to take responsibility and be accountable for what happened (at the Dewan Rakyat last week). However, we will discuss the way forward together. It is very different from Amanah giving ultimatums to its coalition partners.
“I have no idea who the source of this news was,” Khalid said in response to a report by The Malaysian Insight (TMI) that Amanah had given Anwar seven days to overthrow the PN and Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
The report did not say what Amanah planned to do if the PKR president did not follow through with the ultimatum.
Citing sources, TMI reported that Amanah would push for a PH presidential council meeting after seven days.
“There is a difference of opinion on what action should be taken after seven days, but it was unanimous that we waited for this period as Anwar promised,” the source said.
The 2021 budget was approved at the policy stage in the Dewan Rakyat last Thursday after a majority of MPs supported it by voice vote.
Mahfuz Omar of Amanah had risen to request a block vote, but the move was unsuccessful as only 12 other MPs stood to support. A minimum of 15 deputies are required before a block vote can be called.
Anwar later admitted that he told PH MPs to allow the supply bill to pass the first vote, but to mount a fight in the committee stage debate.
He said PH leaders Lim Guan Eng and Mohamad Sabu had been willing to push for a block vote, but had asked them not to.
