Anwar maintains he has the numbers, hopes for chance to lead country

Pakatan Harapan chairperson Anwar Ibrahim insisted he still has the numbers to form a government, as he asserted in the wee hours of the morning.

Anwar, however, declined to reveal who his backers are, adding he would follow due process.

“We will follow the process… it is done (securing the numbers), we will follow the process and let them (my backers) issue their own statements.

“I’m happy that we have settled this with a level of support that I will be given the chance and opportunity to lead this country,” he told reporters.

Astro Awani live-streamed the impromptu presser.

Pressed on whether he really had the numbers, Anwar stressed it “had been enough since last night”.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong has given major party leaders until 2pm tomorrow to prove that they command a majority in the Dewan Rakyat to be sworn in as prime minister.

Harapan has 82 MPs and needs at least 30 to have an assured simple majority which would not be affected by the outcome of two pending parliamentary seat polls.

However, Perikatan Nasional chief Muhyiddin Yassin also claims to have majority support from Sarawak’s GPS, Sabah’s GRS, and “several MPs”.

PN, GPS, and GRS combined have 101 seats.

Both Anwar and Muhyiddin are believed to be vying for support from BN - which has 30 seats but is undergoing a major internal schism after its poorest election performance ever.

Asked about GPS pledging support for PN, Anwar admitted that there are strained ties between the Sarawak coalition and Harapan.

However, he asserted that national stability, safeguarding the economy and the people’s wellbeing - reasons cited by GPS for backing PN - are “shared responsibilities”.

Anwar has been on a long unfulfilled quest to become prime minister.

He has claimed to have enough support to fulfil that goal in 2008, and again in 2020.

On both occasions, the claimed majority failed to materialise.

For the 2020 bid, Anwar said the support did not come through as he refused to meddle in court cases.

It was strongly believed that Anwar's support was from Umno MPs, including party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who is on trial for corruption.

Zahid is again believed to be trying to align Umno and BN with Harapan but is meeting resistance due to the drubbing received at the polls yesterday.

It is unclear if any compromises have been assured to Zahid in exchange for support.

Zahid rebuffs GPS' claims, reminds BN MPs of their pledge to him

Embattled BN now finds itself in the kingmaker spot

BN conspicuously absent in Muhyiddin's statement claiming majority

GPS agrees to form govt with PN, BN, GRS - Abang Johari