PM confident he commands Dewan Rakyat support

The Star

21-07-2025

United front: Anwar flanked by Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (left) and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof as they arrive for Anwar's meeting with the Prime Minister's Department staff in Putrajaya. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star
PUTRAJAYA: The Prime Minister has challenged the Opposition, who he said has been politicising issues, to bring on the vote of no confidence if they intend to bring him down.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he has instructed Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul to allow the motion of vote of no-confidence if it is raised in Parliament.
The Dewan Rakyat meeting began yesterday.
'There are those who say Anwar must step down. There are those who want to rally (to make me step down).
'The police gave a report and I said do not block the roads. When asked what is the priority of the rally, organisers said the government must be changed and they do not want to wait for the gene­ral elections. I said it's okay.
'I told the Speaker that if there is a motion of no-confidence vote, bring it on. On this first day of Parliament, I (will) wait for the motion of no-confidence vote,' he said yesterday.
'But they (the Opposition) know they cannot (bring the motion), as I have the support of two-thirds majority (of the Dewan Rakyat). They are pushing to topple the government. We will be firm if it goes against the constitution and laws,' added Anwar.
He said the current government's efforts and work will be in vain if chaos reigns and the country is not deemed safe.
The Opposition is planning a rally themed 'Himpunan Turun Anwar' on Saturday, which the Home Ministry has said it will facilitate, with 2,000 police on the ground.
Anwar also called out those who criticised him over the delay in the appointment of the Chief Justice.
He described the 'chaos' before the appointment as unnecessary, explaining that he was wai­ting for the endorsement of the Malay Rulers.
'With rallies and attacks against me, the issue was politicised for a week. How could I have answered (who the Chief Justice would be)?
'I had to follow the Federal Constitution. I have said that there is a process. They wanted a guarantee that such and such a person would not be appointed. I could not be ahead of the Malay Rulers before it is endorsed by the King,' he said.
'We did not change the name at the last minute. The name that was given from the start was the name agreed upon by the Malay Rulers.
'Even the judiciary was politicised in the chaos. Now, all is quiet. Where are those who have heaped attacks on me?'
He was referring to concerns raised by the Bar Council and the opposition over the delay in na­­ming the new Chief Justice following the retirement of Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat on July 1.
On July 18, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, approved the appointments of three top judicial figures, inclu­ding Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh as the new Chief Justice of the Federal Court.