Anwars numbers still a guessing game

KUALA LUMPUR: The much awaited audience of Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at Istana Negara today has still not provided a clear answer as to exactly how many MPs are backing him to form a new government.

The PKR president's press conference post-audience with His Majesty also did not provide any answers either.

The Member of Parliament for Port Dickson was only willing to reveal that he had the backing of more than 120 MPs in the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives).

This was confirmed later when the palace issued a statement saying that Anwar only presented the number of MPs backing him to be the next prime minister but did not furnish their names.

At the press conference held at a hotel here, Anwar asked all parties to give room to the King to go through the documentation he presented on majority support of MPs and claimed that His Majesty would be calling the relevant party leaders for confirmation.

Asked about the list of names, Anwar replied that it would be released later.

In another development, veteran UMNO leader Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah had gone to Istana Negara this afternoon, after PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had the audience with the King earlier.

It could not be immediately confirmed whether Tengku Razaleigh was summoned by the palace or had requested an audience with the King.

A black car ferrying the Gua Musang MP was seen leaving through Gate 2 of the palace at 2.40 pm.

The newsmen waiting at the gate had not seen the car entering the palace compound, probably because it could have come through Gate 3.

Istana Negara did not issue a statement on this.

Despite all the fast-paced political developments today, the Perikatan Nasional government under the leadership of Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin continued to function as normal with the prime minister himself holding a virtual press conference at 5 pm.

Muhyiddin did not delve into this subject and spoke more about the COVID-19 situation and reviving the economy which has been badly hit by the pandemic.

When asked specifically about Anwar's audience with the King, he said that he would leave it to the wisdom of His Majesty to decide on the matter.

On other fronts, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Health director general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah held their daily press conferences on the COVID-19 situation in the country, the former on the Movement Control Order and the latter on case details. Both pressers were held virtually.

The public will be eagerly awaiting how things unfold on the political front in the coming days with Malaysia now facing a third wave of COVID-19 cases.