Malaysian police to quiz Anwar on list of MP backers

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian police will summon Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim for questioning over an alleged list of MPs who support his plan to form a new government.

The date is yet to be fixed as Anwar was unable to meet the police on Monday (Oct 12), said Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department chief Huzir Mohamed.

“We have been told that Anwar can only come for questioning on October 13 at 9am. Therefore, we have to set another appointment with him on a later date,” Mr Huzir said.

Mr Anwar was originally called to give his statement at 11am on Monday, but Mr Huzir said the People's Justice Party (PKR) president’s private secretary told police that he was only available at 9am tomorrow.

However, Mr Anwar has also been granted an audience with the Malaysian king tomorrow, when he is to purportedly inform the Malaysian king of the majority support he claims he has from MPs to form a new government.

Mr Huzir said the investigation into Mr Anwar’s claims was launched after a police report was lodged by Jerantut MP Ahmad Nazlan Idris last Thursday.

The probe involves a list of 121 MPs who allegedly support Mr Anwar in his bid to take over Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s government.

Six police reports been lodged on the matter, Mr Huzir added.

“So far, six police reports have been lodged on the matter and the case is being probed under Section 505 (b) of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act.”

Section 505(b) of the Penal Code criminalises any act of public mischief, punishable by a jail term of up to two years, a fine, or both.

Mr Anwar said on Sept 23 that he had secured the support of a majority of MPs to take over the government, but was unable to meet the Malaysian king, who was hospitalised at the time.

Ahead of his royal audience tomorrow, various political parties issued a flurry of statements over the weekend, pledging continued support for Mr Muhyiddin’s government and dismissing Mr Anwar’s claims.

United Malays National Organisation (Umno) president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, however, has said that he could not stop any of the party’s MPs from supporting Mr Anwar if they wanted to. THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT