KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia is witnessing a sharp ongoing battle between two very senior politicians, the Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and Former PN deputy Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Sources said this morning (Aug 18), Anwar is still short of the 111 lawmakers’ support needed for a simple majority in Parliament, while Ismail Sabri has already secured 115 MPs support.
According to Straits Times Datuk Seri Anwar, who leads the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition and is Parti Keadilan Rakyat president, has the backing of at least 105 lawmakers, with 88 of them hailing from his coalition.
Last night, after UMNO and Barisan Nasional MPs meeting, it was announced that all the BN and Umno MPs are supporting Ismail to become the Prime Minister.
Bersatu’s 35 MPs and party president Muhyiddin Yassin are also backing Ismail Sabri Yaakob as the next prime minister, according Bersatu Supreme council member Eddin Syazlee Shith.
GPS threw the support of its 18 MPs behind Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) stands by Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob as their choice for the Prime Minister post, said GPS secretary-general Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi.
PAS also expressed their support in the nomination of Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob as prime minister, according to PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.
Anwar has the support of all PKR, DAP and Amanah MPs, and he hopes on Warisan to support him to get the simple majority. Warisan did not declare anything yet.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong decrees that the next prime minister must prove his legitimacy through a motion of confidence in the Dewan Rakyat.
A statement posted on Istana Negara Facebook page on Wednesday (Aug 18) said the King had decreed this during his audience with the heads of political parties on Tuesday (Aug 17).
