Guessing game; Anwar cries betrayal
Published on: Monday, February 24, 2020
Kuala Lumpur: PKR President Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim confirmed of attempts to destabilise the Pakatan Harapan government by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia and a faction from PKR.
“Now we are waiting for further information but there were attempts to bring down the Pakatan government involving our former friend Bersatu and a small faction from PKR who has betrayed us.
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“They have met with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sunday evening but there is no further announcement,” said Anwar after delivering a sermon during a religious event at his Bukit Segambut residence.
“The question about a new government... I haven’t received the full information yet,” he said in the sermon which was broadcast live on the PKR Facebook page.
He was referring to speculation that Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is Bersatu Chairman, was executing a plan to form a new coalition government with Anwar’s rival, PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali’s faction, Umno and PAS.
Speculation erupted that Bersatu, Umno, PAS, Gabungan Parti Sarawak and Parti Warisan Sabah will form a new coalition government with the PKR faction aligned with Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.
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The presidents of all five parties as well as Azmin were also granted an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong this evening.
An aide to Dr Mahathir told the press that the prime minister is not scheduled to make any announcement tonight.
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On Friday, Pakatan Harapan convened an increasingly rare meeting of its presidential council that was meant to fix a date for Dr Mahathir’s departure as the prime minister.
However, the event ended in a stalemate after Dr Mahathir’s party threatened to withdraw from the coalition unless he is allowed to choose when he will relinquish the position.
“We were surprised today with developments which to us is a betrayal because it’s been promised and so on. So that’s led to changes and I expect maybe that will happen soon, maybe tomorrow (Monday).”
He has sought an audience with the Agong which an aide said had requested some time ago.
Anwar’s supporters have sought to pressure Dr Mahathir to step aside and transfer power to Anwar as agreed between Pakatan Harapan leaders before the 2018 general election.
Penang mufti Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor told Anwar to remain strong and steadfast, quoting a verse from the Quran.
PKR supporters were attending prayers at the Bukit Segambut residence of Anwar.
Supporters, both Muslims and non-Muslims, started gathering at Anwar’s house as early as 5pm Sunday for the religious event (majlis zikir), which was posted on the PKR Facebook page.
“They plan, God also plans. And verily God is the best of all planners. To all friends and comrades in the struggle, let us all gather at Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s house in Segambut starting 6pm today. We ask for prayers, for protection from all evil and for all matters to be eased,” said the caption accompanying the photo announcing the majlis zikir.
Before the event, PKR MPs Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Datuk Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid, Fahmi Fadzil, Wong Chen were among those sighted at the premises.
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