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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian police said on Thursday (October 15) that they had summoned opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to assist in investigations of a viral list of federal lawmakers who were allegedly backing his bid to become prime minister.
Anwar met with King Al-Sultan Abdullah on Tuesday in an attempt to show that he has a “convincing” parliamentary majority to replace Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and form a government.
Comment: Why is Anwar Ibrahim’s dream of becoming Malaysia’s prime minister still frustrated?
He was asked to give a statement on Friday about complaints made to the police about a list of 121 parliamentarians (MPs) who allegedly back his candidacy, which had gone viral on social media, said the director of the criminal investigation department, Huzir Mohamed a statement.
“To date, a total of 113 police reports have been received,” Huzir said of the complaints.
Police did not detail any of the complaints, but Huzir said the investigations were guided by provisions of the penal code and a separate multimedia law that covers statements that could cause harm or public harassment.
The punishment for such crimes includes a jail term of up to two years and fines.
Anwar’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Explainer: The fight for the office of Prime Minister of Malaysia
At a press conference after his meeting with the king on Tuesday, Anwar said he has more than 120 MPs backing his candidacy. However, the palace later said it only provided the number of lawmakers it said backed its offer and not their identities.
Anwar’s claim to the post of prime minister has triggered a new outbreak of political disputes in Malaysia, which is grappling with a recent spike in coronavirus cases and its worst recession since the global financial crisis.
If Anwar succeeds in getting the job, it would be the culmination of a 22-year search, which included nearly 10 years in jail on sodomy charges that he denied. It would also mean that Malaysia would have its third prime minister this year.
