‘Perikatan backs Muhyiddin’

We reject any attempt to topple current govt, says bloc’s sec-gen

The support shown by Perikatan Nasional component parties towards Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s leadership as Prime Minister is a sign of rejection against any attempt to topple the Federal Government, says Perikatan secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin.

“While Covid-19 continues to spread across the world, the Perikatan government is fully focused on managing the country’s economy and offering the best health services to every Malaysian.

“Perikatan is urging Malaysians to continue to be united and abide by the Health Ministry’s SOP to break the chain of Covid-19 infections,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Hamzah’s statement was in response to the support declared by Perikatan parties towards Muhyiddin’s leadership.

On Oct 8, Anwar said he was granted an audience with the King today to present statutory declarations (SD) from MPs in his bid to be the ninth Malaysian premier.

Anwar claims he has more than 120 SDs in support of his bid to be the next premier.

Multiple party sources have denied any knowledge of the numbers in support of Anwar as premier, saying that the PKR president had kept his “cards close to his chest”.

Other party sources have said that they were instructed not to speak to the media regarding the matter.

However, critics are doubtful that

Anwar has adequate support to be premier because PAS, Barisan Nasional, Parti Bersatu Sabah and even Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s new party Pejuang have declared that all of their MPs will abstain from supporting Anwar as prime minister.

The Perikatan government is currently ruling on a two-seat majority with 113 out of the 222 MPs.

Pakatan Harapan Plus, on the other hand, has 108 MPs following the death of Parti Warisan Sabah Batu Sapi MP Datuk Liew Vui Keong.

Meanwhile, Padang Rengas MP Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz dismissed a report by a news portal claiming that tension was brewing among Umno lawmakers because some of them were purportedly backing Anwar.

“I have personally contacted all 23 Umno backbenchers and they have told me that none of them support Anwar.

“There are irresponsible people trying to create disinformation about us. The report is not true and we are all united,” Nazri said when contacted.

The report claimed that Umno MPs were divided into three groups – those who support Anwar, those against him and fence-sitters who have yet to decide.

In Kota Kinabalu, Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan reiterated his support for Muhyiddin to continue leading the nation.

On Anwar’s moves to attract MPs from the government side hoping to be the next prime minister, Jeffrey said such actions would be damaging to himself.

“Anwar should be aware that in the current scenario, in the eyes of the people, he is damaging his own credibility when he portrays himself as craving to be the prime minister regardless of the consequences to the rakyat.

“It would be better for him to look after his constituents as the MP for Port Dickson and contribute his efforts and energy to assist the government and the people in the fight against the invisible enemy, the Covid-19 pandemic,” Jeffrey added.

Perikatan is urging Malaysians to continue to be united and abide by the Health Ministry’s SOP to break the chain of Covid-19 infections.

Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin