KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Malaysia’s Opposition Leader and PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim presented to the King only the number of MPs he claimed to be backing him and not the list of their names to strengthen his claim, according to Istana Negara (National Palace).
Istana Negara Comptroller of the Royal Household Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said Anwar presented the number during his audience with the King, Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, at Istana Negara at 11 am today.
“During the audience of about 25 minutes, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim presented the number of Dewan Rakyat MPs who he claimed supported him. However, he did not present the list of names of the MPs to strengthen the claim.
“In view of this, Sultan Abdullah advised Anwar Ibrahim to abide by and respect the legal process as enshrined in the Federal Constitution,” he said in a statement.
Anwar, at a press conference in the afternoon after his audience with the King, said he had presented to His Majesty documents authenticating the support he has from more than 120 MPs in the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives).
According to Ahmad Fadil, the audience was originally scheduled for Sept 22 but because of ill health, His Majesty had to undergo treatment at the National Heart Institute from Sept 21 to Oct 3 .
Meanwhile, Anwar at the press conference held at a hotel here, asked all parties to give room to the King to go through the documentation and claimed that His Majesty would be calling the relevant party leaders for confirmation.
“(The) Yang di-Pertuan Agong has discretionary powers), (so) it is not right for us to set a time frame.
“I urge all quarters to give room to His Majesty to discharge his duties according to the Constitution and Tuanku’s wisdom to go through the documents and in one (or) two days call the heads of the parties for confirmation, and get inputs and views as best as possible,” he said.
Anwar claimed that the documentation was in the form of Statutory Declarations (SDs) and confirmation letters form the party heads.
Asked if he had made any deals with with MPs on the other side including those facing court charges to get their support, Anwar said: “This is an inclusive government. No political personal vendetta against anybody.”
He said focus must be given to reforming institutions and the judiciary as well as developing the country.
Anwar also said the question of a snap general election was also not raised during the audience with the King.
Asked further whether the backing also included from former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Anwar said: “The list will be released (later).”
— NNN-BERNAMA