Anwar: Muhyiddin lacked support, some inked two or three SDs

Anwar Ibrahim has dismissed Muhyiddin Yassin’s claim that he had sufficient support to form the government after the last general election.

According to the prime minister, the Perikatan Nasional chairperson did not have enough support because some lawmakers had “signed two or three” statutory declarations (SDs).

“When the situation was unclear, Muhyiddin claimed to have 115, while I claimed to have 112. But some people signed once, twice, three times. Some parties had differing opinions.

“Therefore, His Majesty (the Yang di-Pertuan Agong) had to revisit and review the situation to reassure himself.

“Tuanku then convened a meeting of the Conference of Rulers to discuss the matter,” he told reporters after having lunch at Warung Gertak Merah, Kg Sungai Penchala, Kuala Lumpur, today.

Anwar, who is the Pakatan Harapan chairman, said the Conference of Rulers and the attorney-general at the time, Idrus Harun, also disputed the number of SDs.

“From what I understand, the rulers and the attorney-general, who was appointed by Muhyiddin, found the numbers questionable, so it was left to the discretion of the Agong,” Anwar said.

Muhyiddin, while campaigning in the Nenggiri by-election, claimed that he had 115 SDs after GE15, stating that the number was sufficient for him to become prime minister.

The Pagoh MP also questioned why he was not invited by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to the Istana Negara to be appointed as prime minister.

On Wednesday, Muhyiddin submitted 115 SDs to the police, who are probing him for allegedly insulting the former Agong, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, in his campaign speech.

He also submitted a letter from the private secretary to the then king affirming that he had received the declarations on Nov 21, 2022.

Yesterday, BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said out of the 115 SDs Muhyiddin claimed to have, 10 MPs had signed two SDs - one supporting PN and the other, BN.

‘Leave probe to police, AG’

Separately, Anwar told reporters that he would leave the investigation on the matter to the police and not interfere.

The prime minister was answering questions from the media on the criticisms against the police use of the Sedition Act to investigate the Bersatu president.

“For now we leave the investigation to the police and (to the) attorney-general. I will not interfere with the matter,” he told reporters at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre this afternoon.

On Wednesday, former Amanah lawmaker Mohamed Hanipa Maidin cited the Quran in expressing disagreement with Muhyiddin being investigated under the Sedition Act.

The former deputy minister overseeing legal affairs during the Harapan administration said while he disagreed with the PN chief’s remarks, which have ignited a firestorm, the latter should not be subjected to an oppressive piece of legislation.

Apart from Hanipa, PKR lawmaker Hassan Abdul Karim and NGO Lawyers for Liberty have echoed the call saying that “3R - race, religion, and royalty” should not be used to justify invoking the draconian act.

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