Try but make this the last, Anwar tells plotters
Published on: Sunday, May 07, 2023
Anwar said he chose to face his detractors in Parliament to prove his legitimacy, unlike previous Prime Ministers. He added that the Unity Government he led is still strong with the support of 148 MPs and the current administration was still intact. - Bernama pix
Kuala Lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim challenged those behind an alleged conspiracy to overthrow the Federal Government to call for a confidence vote against him during the coming parliamentary sitting on May 22 instead.The challenge came as Anwar said he needed to put a stop to talks of toppling the Unity Government, which could sabotage and destabilise the federal administration.
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“I challenge those who want to topple the Unity Government. I will face you all, bring the motion during the Parliament sitting but with one condition — let this be the last [effort to overthrow the government], so that we can focus on developing the country,” he said.
The Tambun MP said this during his speech at the Malaysia Madani Open House held at Universiti Teknologi Mara’s (UiTM) Permatang Pauh campus in Bukit Mertajam.
Anwar was responding to talks about a concerted effort by the Opposition to topple him and the Unity Government.
Anwar said he chose to face his detractors in Parliament to prove his legitimacy, unlike previous Prime Ministers.
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He added that the Unity Government he led is still strong with the support of 148 MPs and the current administration was still intact.
Anwar’s comments were believed to be in reference to a recent news portal report stating that a group of Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs, who previously supported Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for Prime Minister after the 15th general election (GE15), were involved in a plot to overthrow the Unity Government by quitting their seats and forcing by-elections.
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Barisan Nasional (BN) Chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has since said not one of its MPs will vacate their seat to attempt to destabilise and topple the Anwar administration.
Rumours about a plot to overthrow Anwar’s Unity Government have since gained traction over the last few days, fuelled by a meeting held between Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders and former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who agreed to collaborate in a movement to establish a Malay political dominance.
Earlier, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia Deputy President Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu refuted rumours that PN has gathered statutory declarations from 126 MPs expressing their support for the coalition.
Meanwhile, Anwar scoffed at Malay leaders and tycoons who claim to uphold Malay rights but have enriched themselves and their families.
He said such parties should give up half of their profits to help the Malays at large.
“They should not use their powers to enrich their family members. And when they are rich, but have lost power, they go on to say ‘long live Malays’ and ‘save the Malays’,” he said.
“I want to tell the leaders with the titles of ‘Tun’ and ‘Tan Sri’ who are rich – if you really want to save Malays, give them half of your billions in profits tomorrow.”
In March, Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said numerous political leaders had accumulated “massive wealth”.
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