Anwar, Not Muhyiddin, Has The Majority, Says Sarawak Report

“This means that Malaysia is now being run by a bunch of jumped-up nitwits to a large extent, holding office purely because they represent a number in a coalition that is short of loyal MPs — an administration of Malay supremacists, PAS bigots and Taib cronies,” said Sarawak Report.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

This was what Sarawak Report said today:

After defectors tipped up the table with their secretly planned coup in February, the former prime minister, veteran leader Dr Mahathir, requested an emergency recall of Parliament to test who had the majority. That was the correct thing to do under the constitution.

However, he was outmanoeuvred, thanks to his own botched resignation, and the Agong took his opportunity to decide that, according to his apparent soundings, one of the defectors – the so-called ‘PM8′, who had pretended allegiance to Mahathir until the last moment – commanded the confidence of the majority of MPs.

How the Agong reached that honest conclusion is his particular constitutional role.  However, it conflicted with the actual statements the King/Agong had troubled to take from each and every MP who were all invited to attend the palace to extend their preference.

From that MP’s roster, which has been leaked, it could be divined that the PKR leader, Anwar Ibrahim, had the majority support (reportedly 92 votes) and that his Harapan colleague and leader, the former prime minister, Dr Mahathir, came second (reportedly 65 votes).

Out of a total of 220 MPs the current ‘PM8′ came nowhere.

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Was His Majesty the Agong really behind a “palace coup”, as Pakatan Harapan alleges?

According to Sarawak Report, on 1st March 2020, Anwar Ibrahim, with 92 votes, had the majority support from the 220 members of parliament who had an audience with Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong. This was followed by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad with 65 votes. Muhyiddin Yassin, the current prime minister or PM8, received only 63 votes.

If Anwar received 92 votes while Mahathir and Muhyiddin received only 65 and 63 votes respectively, how could His Majesty the Agong swear in Muhyiddin as the prime minister? That is the issue which Sarawak Report is raising, suggesting that His Majesty was not being totally honest — hence the reason why they call the 1st March 2020 episode a “royal coup” or “palace-backed coup”.

Yes, serious charges indeed.

“As the unconfirmed ‘opposition’ (the former elected government) bided its time for a chance to test its own claimed majority on the floor of the house, the unconfirmed ‘PM8′ and his allies have gone about doing just that – buying MPs,” said Sarawak Report.

Note that Sarawak Report refers to Pakatan Harapan as “the unconfirmed opposition” and “the former elected government”. This means Pakatan Harapan is still legally the rightful government while Perikatan Nasional is not. And that strengthens the argument that His Majesty the Agong acted illegally in swearing in Muhyiddin as PM8.

According to Pakatan Harapan and Sarawak Report, Perikatan Nasional is an illegal government

This, basically, is Pakatan Harapan’s standard narrative or propaganda. Pakatan Harapan was elected, Perikatan Nasional was not. Pakatan Harapan is still the legal government, Perikatan Nasional is not. Pakatan Harapan was ousted in a royal coup or palace-backed coup. Anwar got the highest votes, Mahathir second, and Muhyiddin got the least number of votes.

Added to that narrative is: Muhyiddin is using the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic to delay convening parliament. Parliament is going to be held for only one day on 18th May 2020, a delay of 79 days from the day Muhyiddin took office. That “only one day” session is meant to block any attempt of a vote of no confidence against Muhyiddin.

The 79 days delay is giving Muhyiddin ample time to bribe and buy off those MPs still not yet with him so that any attempt of a vote of confidence against him on 18th May 2020 will fail. “As the unconfirmed ‘opposition’ (the former elected government) bided its time for a chance to test its own claimed majority on the floor of the house, the unconfirmed ‘PM8′ and his allies have gone about doing just that – buying MPs,” said Sarawak Report.

Sarawak Report admits that Mahathir’s stupidity brought down the Pakatan Harapan government

To cut a long story short, Sarawak Report is basically saying that Muhyiddin is far smarter than Anwar and Mahathir combined. While Anwar and Mahathir were both fighting over the post of prime minister, Muhyiddin, without opening his mouth or saying anything, quietly sneaks in and takes the throne.

Sarawak Report is also saying, contrary to what the republicans and critics of the monarchy allege, the Istana DOES have power after all, both at state and federal level. Finally, the Agong decides who becomes prime minister if, in His Majesty’s opinion, that particular MP has the confidence of the majority of the House (this is stated in the Federal Constitution).

And we must remember that Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Perak, Kedah and Perlis (in short, all the nine states with rulers), at one time or another in the history of Malaysia (and sometimes more than once in a particular state), have seen the Istana pay a role in deciding who should be the menteri besar.