Anwar vindicated now after ridicule over PM bid, says PKR

 

Anwar Ibrahim had received the support of Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for his 2020 bid to form a new government, it was claimed today.

PETALING JAYA: Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has been vindicated after being ridiculed in 2020 for an attempt to form a new government, PKR’s information chief said today.

Shamsul Iskandar Akin said the statement by former Umno Supreme Council member Tajuddin Abdul Rahman proved that Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Anwar did have sufficient support from MPs to regain power.

Tajuddin’s statement also validated PH’s initiative to restore the people’s mandate secured in the 2018 general election after they were betrayed in the “Sheraton Move” of 2020 which caused the PH government to fall, Shamsul said.

The “Sheraton Move” describes the withdrawal of Bersatu members from the PH government and the formation of a Perikatan Nasional government led by Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin.

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Anwar, who is PKR president, announced six months later that he had secured “strong, formidable and convincing” support from MPs to form a new government.

Shamsul said Tajuddin’s revelation had answered the ridicule Anwar had faced and the accusation of lying about the number of MPs who supported him.

Tajuddin had said today that he was a “living witness” to efforts by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to get Umno MPs to back Anwar as prime minister.

Shamsul said Tajuddin’s statement also revealed the betrayal and personal agendas that had thwarted efforts and attempts to restore the people’s mandate in Putrajaya.

Tajuddin had urged Umno president Zahid to step down “for the sake of the party” and to allow Ismail Sabri Yaakob, the vice-president who is the prime minister, to take over.

He said 130 Umno division chiefs, led by Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan, wanted Zahid to step down as party president in 2020.

He also accused Zahid of making decisions for the party unilaterally, and said the Umno Supreme Council merely went along with Zahid’s decisions.

Shamsul said: “Naturally, we cannot compromise with leaders who have been accused and convicted of corruption and disgusting malpractices. They must have their day in court because the law must be allowed to take its course,” he said. - FMT