FMT Reporters
KOTA KINABALU: Warisan’s Sepanggar MP Azis Jamman says the party will back opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister if the latter can garner the support of at least 111 MPs.
“Warisan will support DSAI (Anwar) for PM if he can get past the magic number and hope Pakatan Harapan will give right of first refusal to (Warisan president) Shafie Apdal if DSAI can’t get past the magic number,” he said over Twitter today.
Replying to a question from a netizen in the thread, Azis said: “Minimum 111 out of 220 MPs. As it stands today, the opposition has 105 MPs, so we are short of seven extra MPs.”
To another question on how could there be a first right of refusal condition when only one candidate is allowed on the MPs’ statutory declarations (SDs), Azis said Shafie and Anwar would have to meet up first to discuss the matter.
“Both leaders need to meet face-to-face and show (their) cards before submitting a name to the Palace.
“Whoever gets the highest should be given the chance to write their name on the SD…or do you have any other idea,” he said.
Earlier today, a source told FMT the appointment of an interim prime minister, but without a Cabinet, appears to be a possible solution to the current political crisis as no party nor MP appears to command majority support.
The source said there were two main groups in the race to be appointed prime minister following Muhyiddin Yassin’s resignation – one led by Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob and the other being the opposition bloc.
The source said the bulk of Bersatu MPs are backing Ismail and this would see a coalition similar to the previous administration.
On the opposition front, the source said the frontrunners are Anwar and Shafie.
“The opposition has around 105 MPs. I’m told that whoever between Anwar and Shafie gets the numbers (support of 111MPs) will be their PM candidate.”
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