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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said on Thursday (October 8) that he will meet with the country’s king next week to present his case to take over as Prime Minister from Muhyiddin Yassin.
Anwar said King Sultan Abdullah had agreed to grant him a hearing, where he will present documentation “from the strong and convincing majority” of members of parliament supporting his claim to the post of prime minister.
“I would like to express my gratitude to His Majesty for granting me an audience to meet on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 at Insha’Allah,” Anwar said in a statement, using the Arabic term for “God willing.”
Two weeks ago, Anwar declared that he had assembled a “formidable” majority among federal lawmakers to oust Muhyiddin, sparking a new episode of political drama in the Southeast Asian country.
Anwar had said he had the support of nearly two-thirds of the 222 lawmakers in parliament, without giving actual figures or revealing who had pledged their support.
The national palace and the prime minister’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment about their royal audience.
READ: Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin casts doubt on Anwar’s claim of majority parliamentary support
READ: Malaysian King Will Not Take Short-Term Meetings Amid Political Struggle Due To Poor Health, Palace Official Says
The latest twist in Malaysia’s protracted power struggle comes after the coronavirus pandemic caused the country’s export-driven economy to post its first contraction in the second quarter since the 2009 global financial crisis.
Muhyiddin, whose seven-month-old coalition has survived with a slim majority, had previously rejected Anwar’s claims as a “mere accusation” and told him to prove his majority through constitutional process.
Muhyiddin came to power in March after gaining a majority with the support of the United Malays National Organization, which was defeated in the 2018 elections.
His opponents have accused him of seizing power by trading alliances rather than winning it at the polls.
The king plays a primarily ceremonial role in Malaysia, but could appoint a prime minister who, in his opinion, probably has a majority in parliament. It could also dissolve parliament and trigger elections on the advice of the prime minister.
