By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, Oct 12: The Perikatan Nasional (PN) government is intact and opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim does not have the majority in Parliament to necessitate change in the current leadership, opined political scientist Professor Dr Jayum Jawan.
“I don’t think he has the number (of seats in Parliament) for a change in premiership,” said Jayum when contacted by DayakDaily today.
He was commenting on Anwar’s planned audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah tomorrow amidst strong speculations of a possible takeover of the reins of government.
Additionally, Jayum, who is currently the Tan Sri Empiang Jabu Research Chair for Dayak Women Studies in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) pointed out that Anwar’s planned meeting with the Agong tomorrow was not the right forum to seek a change in government.
“The right avenue is through Parliament. If there is a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, then he (Anwar) can get to be appointed as the next prime minister. But as of now, I don’t think he even has the number (for a Parliament majority),” he reiterated.
PN secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin had asserted in a recent press statement that none of the current MPs from PN has switched sides.
On Sept 23, Anwar had claimed that he had garnered “formidable and convincing” support from Members of Parliament (MPs) to form a new government to replace the ruling PN government. The next day, he had planned to have an audience with the king but the latter was taken ill and hospitalised at National Heart Institute (IJN).
In the last Parliament sitting held from July 13-Aug 27, PN held 114 out of the 222 seats in Parliament. Parliament is expected to convene again from Nov 2-Dec 15. — DayakDaily
