Amanah gives Anwar 7 days to oust Muhyiddin, say sources

KUALA LUMPUR — National Trust Party (Amanah) is giving opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim seven days to fulfil his vow to oust the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, as promised to Pakatan Harapan (PH), said party sources.

Party insiders said they are holding Mr Anwar to what he had said after PH failed to reject Budget 2021 at the policy stage last Thursday (Nov 26), and that this was decided in the Amanah supreme council meeting on Sunday.

The Amanah leadership also decided that the PH presidential council should meet after the seven-day period on Thursday to set the direction of the coalition, a source added.

“There is a difference in opinions on what action is to be taken after the seven days, but there was a unanimous decision to wait this period as promised by Anwar,” a source said.

The Malaysian Insight understands that a special meeting of the Amanah national leadership committee was called after an opposition bloc disagreement during the Budget 2021 vote at the policy stage last Thursday.

“The meeting also discussed what happened in Parliament after what had been previously agreed upon at a PH meeting last week. There were also discussions about Amanah’s reaction and action,” the source said.

Last Thursday, the opposition appeared divided during the Budget 2021 voting.

Several opposition lawmakers, led by Amanah’s Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar, called for division voting but only 13 MPs — from Amanah and Pejuang — stood up in support.

Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and deputy Salahuddin Ayub were among the lawmakers who joined People's Justice Party (PKR) and Democratic Action Party (DAP) not supporting this call.

Several PKR and DAP parliamentarians revealed later that Mr Anwar had asked for seven days to prove he has the majority of support in Dewan Rakyat, or he will resign as PH president and opposition leader.

Mr Anwar instructed them not to stand up, thus allowing the budget to be approved at the policy stage despite the PH presidential council’s decision the previous day to reject the supply bill.

Another Amanah source confirmed this matter to The Malaysian Insight.

Apart from Amanah, Sabah Heritage Party also “sent a signal” over Mr Anwar’s leadership when all eight MPs, including party president Mohd Shafie Apdal, agreed not to participate in the Budget 2021 debate and voting at committee level, which started on Monday.

Party insiders also said Mr Anwar maintains he still had enough support to change the government through the statutory declarations (SD) he collected in October.

“During the meeting in Parliament last Thursday, Anwar said all the SDs he held were still valid,” he said.

Mr Anwar appeared before King Al-Sultan Abdullah on Oct 13 to show that he had “strong and convincing” enough support to be appointed Malaysian prime minister and replace Mr Muhyiddin Yassin.

Sources also said the future of Amanah and possibility of it leaving PH is an option.

“However, everyone agreed that Amanah should remain in PH.

“The mood in the meeting is for PH to think, revise the strategy and offer (leadership) a new face after the seven days,” a source said.

Mr Salahuddin apologised to supporters for sitting down after initially standing up for the division voting. He blamed Mr Mohamad for asking him to sit down again.

Several opposition leaders have tried explaining why they did not go for the division vote. Mr Anwar has said the budget could still be voted down despite the initial vote.

This has led to anger among grassroots supporters, including 55 Amanah members, who released a statement pressuring the party leadership to take a stand and determine the party’s direction following Mr Anwar’s unilateral decision. THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT