POST-GE15 DAY 6 | Anwar Ibrahim is now Malaysia’s new prime minister and will start work today.
Malaysiakini brings you snippets of key events as the day unfolds.
Chinese premier congratulates PM Anwar
10.15pm: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang congratulates Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on his recent appointment to the position.
According to a Facebook posting by the Chinese embassy in Malaysia, Li notes the friendly bilateral ties between the two countries which has sustained great momentum for development.
Li also says he is open to working with Anwar on further development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Malaysia to better benefit both countries and their people.
Harapan leaders visit Prime Minister's Office
7.40pm: Top leaders of the Pakatan Harapan component parties are seen visiting newly minted Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the PKR president, at his office in Putrajaya this evening.
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke posted pictures of himself, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, Upko president Madius Tangau, and Anwar standing in the Prime Minister’s Office earlier.
In the photos, they are shown standing and chatting with each other in the office.
Negeri Sembilan MB: Tok Mat good fit for DPM
6.45pm: Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun has proposed BN deputy chairperson Mohamad Hasan be appointed a deputy prime minister in the unity government.
"Personally, he (Mohamad) is from Negeri Sembilan, so I would like him as DPM. He is an experienced politician and leader, who could fit the bill," Utusan Malaysia quotes Aminuddin, who is also Negeri Sembilan Pakatan Harapan chairperson, telling reporters today.
Megat Zulkarnain replaces Noh as Selangor Umno chief
6.40pm: Gombak Umno division chief Megat Zulkarnain Omardin has been appointed as the new Selangor Umno chief, replacing Noh Omar.
Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan announces this on his Twitter today.
Noh stepped down from his position the day after GE15, following BN’s disastrous showing at the polls where they only won 30 parliamentary seats and lost control of Perlis, Perak and Pahang.
No BN candidate yet for DPM post
6.36pm: BN does not have a candidate to take up the position of deputy prime minister, its vice chairperson Joseph Kurup says.
"Not yet... I'm sorry I do not want to speculate," Kurup, who is also Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president, is quoted telling Berita Harian via a text message.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim assured that there will be two deputy prime ministers in his cabinet under the unity government, and the positions will be filled by representatives from BN and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
GPS will also be a part of the unity government led by the PKR president.
Ismail’s pol sec: Audio on ‘killing off’ Najib’s credibility fake
6.25pm: Former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s political secretary Syed Mohd Fazmi Sayid Mohammad has denied it was his voice in a viral audio recording which contained a conversation between two men talking about “killing off” Najib Abdul Razak’s credibility.
Fazmi has also lodged a police report over this matter.
In a statement reported by Sinar Harian today, he expresses his shock and disappointment after the audio went viral on social media.
He says the “fake audio recording”, which he describes as malicious, and political manoeuvring aimed at tarnishing his reputation.
The two men talking in the recording are alleged to be Fazmi and former Jempol MP Salim Sharif.
Najib’s media team revives old conspiracy
5.30pm: Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's media team is reviving a conspiracy claim from earlier this year - involving PAS, Umno and Bersatu leaders.
The conspiracy claim, termed as “PAS Leaks”, involved a document purportedly detailing meetings to discuss plans to put Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi behind bars.
Najib's media team, who is handling his social media posts for him while he is in prison, claims those named in the document have not denied it.
However, Umno leader Hishammuddin Hussein takes to Facebook to say he had issued a denial in April and left a link.
At the time, PAS vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar called the document rubbish and said it even spelt his name wrongly.
Asri tells DAP to say sorry to Malay-Muslim community
5.21pm: Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin urges DAP to apologise to Muslims and the Malay community to appease the community’s feelings.
"It is hoped this will ease the majority community’s perception (towards DAP) and the latter would initiate better resolutions by taking care of their sensitivity.
"If they refuse, DAP will be seen as the same party that Muslims were sceptical about and rejected before," Asri wrote on Facebook.
His call comes after DAP's recent apology to GPS and Sarawakians.
No show for 'Anti-Zahid' protest
5.00pm: A rally allegedly planned by Umno members against party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at 2pm today did not take place eventually.
Dang Wangi police district chief Noor Delhan Yahya says 260 police personnel were deployed to the party headquarters at World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur but found no such gathering, Free Malaysia Today reports.
They were deployed after a poster advertising the "Rally to Save Umno" circulated on social media.
The poster was circulated with the hashtag #UndurZahid (Zahid resign) and #DemiMalaysia (For Malaysia).
Muhyiddin says no to unity govt, prefers other avenues
4.45pm: In a third press statement today, PN reiterates that it is not interested in joining the Anwar administration.
However, hinting at a possible confidence and supply agreement, chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin says he is ready to look at other avenues of cooperation.
"To ensure political stability and peace for the people, PN is ready to pioneer other forms of cooperation in the area of government-opposition relations," he says.
Ahmad Maslan denounces fake message linking him
4.17pm: Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan denies making certain statements, which are being circulated on social media.
"If anyone wants to verify a statement said to be made by me, just view my Twitter, Facebook or Instagram accounts.
"I have not made other statements besides what is here. Thank you," Ahmad says on Twitter.
He also tells reporters a quote attributed to him in a viral image is fake. The quote states Malays need not fear DAP and that the party is not racist or anti-Islam.
The image was also shared on social media by Perak DAP chairperson Nga Kor Ming, who thanked Ahmad for the statement.
Malay-Muslim NGOs gather to support Zahid
3.50pm: Around 300 members of a coalition of Malay-Muslim NGOs today gather to voice support for Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today.
This comes following calls by certain BN leaders for Zahid to step down as the coalition's chairperson, after its loss in the 15th general election (GE15).
According to one of the attendees, Shahbudin Embun, he says that Zahid singlehandedly preserved Umno's image without the help of its allies, as the party faced various criticisms despite him not holding any government position.
"Heartless are those asking Zahid to step down as BN chairperson and Umno president while letting their former prime minister and 'boss' (Najib Abdul Razak) languish behind bars for years.
"(They are) happy when (BN) wins, but when it loses, they blame the president," Utusan Malaysia quotes him as telling outside the Umno headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.
Afghanistan’s Taliban govt congratulates Anwar
2.45pm: The Taliban government in Afghanistan sends a congratulatory message to Anwar.
"The Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan-Ministry of Foreign Affairs (IEA-Mofa) congratulates Anwar Ibrahim on being elected as prime minister of Malaysia and wishes him success in his tenure," its foreign affairs ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi says on Twitter.
He adds that the two countries are "fraternal Islamic nations" and have had friendly relations since 1957.
"Malaysia has a special place in IEA foreign policy and we stand ready for joint work with the new government in a number of areas," Abdul Qahar tweets.
However, Abdul Qahar's tweets are not retweeted by the ministry's official Twitter account, nor has the ministry's website published a written statement on the matter.
PN says will provide check and balance to new govt
1.00pm: PN chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin congratulates the new prime minister on his appointment.
He adds PN will play the role of check and balance in Parliament, indicating the coalition will not take up any offers to join the Anwar administration.
Meanwhile, PN secretary-general Hamzah Zainuddin thanked voters and says the election results show the coalition is well-received by Malaysians, especially young voters.
PN won 73 seats, making it the second-largest coalition after Harapan - which won 82.
It also won all but one parliamentary seat in Perlis, Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan, and has formed state governments there.
Addressing soaring costs PM’s top priority
12.30pm: In his first press conference after clocking in as prime minister, Anwar says his priority is to tackle rising prices and address cost of living issues.
"I have sought a detailed discussion on immediate steps to be taken to reduce this pressure (on the people) and I will hold an urgent meeting with the relevant departments and agencies soon.
"If they don't mind, I’m asking to meet this weekend or by Monday at the latest. I know it's a public holiday, but if they don't mind, they can postpone the day off," he says.
Anwar says he believes the officers will entertain his request because they understand the urgency of the matter.
Meanwhile, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) reveals the consumer price index for last year showed a general increase of 4 percent, compared to October last year.
This rate still surpassed the average inflation in Malaysia for the period of January 2011 to October 2022 (2 percent), DOSM adds.
The inflation for the food and non-alcoholic beverages group increased by 7.1 percent, higher than what was recorded in September, DOSM says.
Fulfil anti-graft manifesto promises, TI-M says
12.00pm: Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M) urges the newly-appointed prime minister and government to fulfil their manifesto promises.
It says the promises should be fulfilled "without excuses, delays and U-turns", especially those that have been delayed when the Pakatan Harapan government was toppled in February 2020.
It also urges the implementation of key anti-corruption reforms "without delays or watering down".
They are as follows:
Enacting the Political Financing Act
Separating powers of the Attorney-General's Chambers and that of the public prosecutor
Public asset declaration for all elected representatives and senior government officials
Appointment of heads of agencies to be made by a parliamentary select committee
Amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act
Placing the MACC as a commission under the Federal Constitution
TI-M also calls for targets in the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP) to be completed or reinstated to its original form.
"We welcome this new chapter in Malaysian politics, but civil society and the rakyat will keep a close watch on the performance of this unity government in the coming weeks and months," the anti-graft watchdog says.
While the reforms listed are included in the Harapan manifesto, it is unclear how much will be implemented by the coalition government, which also includes representatives from BN and GPS.
Dr M congratulates Anwar, wishes him success
11.30am: Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad congratulates Anwar for his appointment as the 10th prime minister in a brief message on social media.
Mahathir also wishes his former deputy success.
Anwar entered politics in 1982 on his invitation and enjoyed a meteoric rise in Umno under Mahathir's wing.
But things turned sour in 1998 and Mahathir sacked Anwar as deputy prime minister, after which the latter was jailed for corruption and sodomy.
Since then, Mahathir is largely seen as the man blocking Anwar's path to premiership - including when the former was serving as prime minister for the second time under Harapan.
PAS considering PM's offer on unity govt
10.30am: PAS unexpectedly congratulates Anwar Ibrahim for becoming prime minister.
In a statement today, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan also says that his party will consider Anwar's invitation to join his unity government.
This comes as a surprise because as of yesterday morning, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang was still claiming that PN was "in the lead" and would not concede.
PM Anwar clocks in for work
10.15am: According to Bernama Radio, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is greeted at Perdana Putra with a symbolic "clock-in" ceremony.
Anwar, clad in baju Melayu, appears to be dressed in preparation for Friday prayers.
He was flanked by, among others, Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Zuki Ali and Attorney-General Idrus Harun.
Anwar arrives at PMO
9.53am: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's motorcade reaches the prime minister's office in Putrajaya.
He waves to some three dozen reporters waiting for him at the gates.
Ringgit further strengthens against the US dollar
9.00am: The ringgit extends gains against the US dollar, rising by 0.38 percent at the opening today.
It strengthened to 4.4760/4810 against the greenback from Thursday's close of 4.4910/5000.
SPI Asset Management managing director Stephen Innes links this to Anwar's appointment as prime minister yesterday.
Sg Long residents stunned, oblivious Anwar lives there
9.00am: Many residents in Sungai Long - a small suburb north of Kajang, Selangor - only found out yesterday that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim lives in the area.
That is because there was a massive traffic jam yesterday evening during rush hour, caused by indiscriminate parking by Anwar's supporters.
His supporters were trying to get to Sungai Long Golf and Country Club yesterday evening for his maiden press conference as prime minister.
Based on comments left on the private Bandar Mahkota Cheras and Sungai Long Facebook Group, most people said they had no idea that Anwar lives there.
One person wrote: "Sungai Long has good fengshui. The 'hock' (good fortune) has given us a prime minister".
Several other commenters hope that Anwar will resolve traffic jams and pothole woes in the vicinity.
India and Australia PMs congratulate Anwar
8.30am: Morning folks! While we were sleeping, world leaders congratulate our new prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim.
Among them are Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Other congratulatory messages came from Bahrain and the European Union.
US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken, in congratulating the people of Malaysia and Anwar for his appointment, says he looks forward to deepening ties with Malaysia based on shared democratic principles and respect for human rights and the rule of law.
"We remain committed to working with Malaysia to advance a free and open, connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient Indo-Pacific region," he says.
In a statement, the Dalai Lama says he has sent a congratulatory letter to Anwar.
"These are very challenging times. It is my hope that Malaysia will continue to prosper and make significant contributions to the peace and stability of our increasingly interconnected world.
"I wish you every success in meeting the challenges that lie ahead in fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the people of Malaysia," says the Dalai Lama.
Stand-up comedian, Johor-born US-based Ronny Chieng appeares a bit tongue-tied over Anwar’s appointment.
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