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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said on Tuesday (October 13) that he will “leave it to the best judgment of the king,” after opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim claimed he has a parliamentary majority to form a new government.
In his first group interview since taking office as prime minister in March this year, Muhyiddin said his focus was on managing the COVID-19 pandemic and the economy.
“I don’t want to comment on what Anwar did at the palace,” he said.
“As for me, I leave it to the best judgment of the Agong. I think Agong is the most knowledgeable and qualified person. He has his own way of doing things as required by the constitution.”
He added: “Whatever decision you make, you are always following what the constitution states.”
The prime minister also said that when Mr Anwar was meeting the king, he was participating in a video conference with all members of the National Security Council on the COVID-19 issue.
READ: King to study relevant documents and consult party leaders, says Anwar after hearing to demonstrate parliamentary majority
Muhyiddin, chairman of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), had withdrawn the party from the PH coalition in late February to form the Perikatan Nasional government with lawmakers from Barisan Nasional and Parti Islam Se-Malaysia.
This political fight at the federal level, which was suspended for six months as the country battled the pandemic, returned to the forefront with Anwar claiming on September 23 that he had the majority of support from Malaysian MPs.
Earlier at 2 pm on Tuesday, Anwar had announced that he had been in audience with King Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah to present evidence of his support as prime minister.
More leaders from other political parties are expected to meet with the king in the coming days, he said.
The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Muhyiddin Yassin, and the leader of the opposition, Anwar Ibrahim. (Photos: Bernama, Reuters / Lim Huey Teng)
However, the palace said Anwar simply mentioned the number of MPs who said they supported him, but did not provide a list of names.
Criticizing Anwar, Bersatu’s chief information officer, Wan Saiful Wan Jan, said in a statement Tuesday that the opposition leader lied about having a majority.
He suggested to Mr. Anwar that he withdraw from politics if this is just a “desperate strategy” of his to threaten the stability of the government. “It is obvious today that Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin still has the support to continue leading the Perikatan Nasional government,” he said.
