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KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian police had summoned opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim for an interview as part of an investigation into police reports filed by MPs on a list of lawmakers who are supposedly supporting him to become the next prime minister.
The interview was scheduled to take place at 11 a.m. on Monday (October 12), but Police Commissioner Huzir Mohamed later said the meeting had been postponed to a later date, The Star newspaper reported on its website.
Under Malaysian law, the police are obliged to conduct an investigation into an issue once someone has filed a police report on the matter.
“His private secretary (of Datuk Seri Anwar) informed us that he could only do it at 9 am on Tuesday,” said Huzir, director of the Criminal Investigation Department. “We have therefore delayed the recording of his statement to a later date to be determined later.”
Several Umno MPs have told the media that they have submitted police reports in recent days to deny that they support Anwar’s decision to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
Malaysia is full of doubts about whether Anwar, 73, has the support of enough lawmakers to overthrow the seven-month-old government of Perikatan Nasional.
On September 23 he claimed that he has a “formidable” number of MPs behind him and that the government of Tan Sri Muhyiddin has “fallen”.
A list of 121 MPs who allegedly back him has been circulating on social media, and at least 15 MPs from Umno denied having anything to do with Anwar’s inauguration plan and various police filing reports.
The police interview scheduled for Monday, if it had taken place, comes at a delicate time, as Anwar has an audience with the Malaysian king on Tuesday, who plays a key role in determining a change of government.
Anwar has said that he will show his list of deputies to Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin before making it public.
At the last count in Parliament, Prime Minister Muhyiddin has the support of 113 MPs in the 222-seat assembly, just two lawmakers above the minimum required to pass bills and win a vote of confidence.
Commissioner Huzir said the police investigation is based on the release of the list of 121 MPs, after receiving six police reports on the matter, The Star said.
He reminded the public not to be alarmed by the spread of news on the list of deputies.
“We urge all parties involved not to release news that has not been verified,” he said. “We will not hesitate to take action against any party that spreads false or unverified news that may confuse people,” he added.
Anwar is chairman of the opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) with 38 deputies.
PKR Secretary General Saifuddin Nasution Ismail on Monday called on Malaysians and his party members to remain calm before Anwar’s meeting with Sultan Abdullah.
Datuk Seri Saifuddin told PKR members “not to hold any meetings or gather anywhere, especially along the main roads, towards Istana Negara (national palace).”
“I also ask all Malaysians to remain calm while this hearing session takes place, and to remain calm for any further proceedings that take place thereafter,” he said in a statement quoted by Malay Mail online.
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