KUALA LUMPUR — Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin wants Mr Anwar Ibrahim to prove that he commands the majority of the Dewan Rakyat to be appointed prime minister.

Speaking at a press conference called minutes before the Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman was sworn in as the 10th prime minister by Malaysian King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, Mr Muhyiddin insisted he still commands the majority support of the newly elected members of parliament in the 15th General Elections (GE15).

Mr Muhyiddin comments came hours after the PN coalition said that it will consider forming a unity government with Mr Anwar.

At the press conference, Mr Muhyiddin continued to question the issue of the 24-hour deadline extension given by the palace for the respective coalitions to prove their numbers.

He repeated that he had on Monday submitted the statutory declarations (SDs) from 115 MPs to the palace.

It was reported that on Tuesday, just before the extra time granted by the king ended, Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders withdrew their SDs.

It is also understood that at least two Sarawak MPs also pulled their earlier support given en-bloc through Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).

On Wednesday, BN's leadership lent its support to Mr Anwar to be appointed PM. Sabah's Parti Warisan of three MPs has been consistent in saying that it stands with PH.

GPS on Thursday also issued a statement that it would join the unity government led by Mr Anwar.

This came moments after Mr Muhyiddin said the documents which he submitted to the palace to verify his legitimacy as prime minister should be proof enough of his legitimacy to be PM.

"Istana Negara has issued a statement that Anwar has the majority and will be appointed as Prime Minister.

"If Anwar has the majority, he must show it not just to us, but the whole country.

"We want to see it first, give him the chance. If he can prove it, he must show the SDs," he said.

Mr Muhyiddin was flanked by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu, party secretary-general Hamzah Zainuddin and Parti Gerakan Malaysia president Datuk Dominic Lau.

A handful of other party leaders stood behind them — including newly minted MP Dr Mohd Radzi Jidin who managed to score a major upset at the civil service dominated constituency of Putrajaya. NEW STRAITS TIMES