Not for us to issue ultimatum to Anwar, says Khalid

Anwar Ibrahim’s position as opposition leader and Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) attempt to retake Putrajaya are two separate issues. Amanah communications director Khalid Samad has clarified.

(FMT) – In denying a report that his party has given Anwar a week to bring down the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, Khalid said the position of the opposition leader could only be decided by consensus among all component parties and not Amanah alone.

“We appreciate Anwar’s willingness to take responsibility and to be accountable for what happened (at the Dewan Rakyat last week). However, we will discuss the way forward together. It is very unlike Amanah to issue ultimatums to its coalition partners.

“I have no idea who the source of this news was,” Khalid said when responding to a report by The Malaysian Insight (TMI) that Amanah had given Anwar seven days to oust PN and Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

The report did not say what Amanah planned to do if the PKR president failed to meet the ultimatum.

Quoting sources, TMI reported that Amanah would push for a PH presidential council meeting after the seven days.

“There is a difference in opinion on what action is to be taken after the seven days, but it was unanimous that we wait out this period as promised by Anwar,” the source reportedly said.

The 2021 budget was passed at the policy stage in the Dewan Rakyat last Thursday after the majority of MPs supported it through a voice vote.

Amanah’s Mahfuz Omar had stood up to request for a bloc vote but the move was unsuccessful as only 12 other MPs stood up to support. A minimum of 15 MPs are needed before a bloc vote can be called.

Anwar later admitted that he told PH MPs to allow the supply bill to pass the first vote but to mount a fight in the committee stage debate.

He said PH leaders Lim Guan Eng and Mohamad Sabu had been keen to push for a bloc vote but he had requested them not to do so.