People watch Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's televised speech at a restaurant in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sept. 23, 2020. Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Wednesday said opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim needs to prove he had gathered the support of a majority of members of parliament, otherwise it would only be an allegation. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua)
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Wednesday said opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim needs to prove he had gathered the support of a majority of members of parliament, otherwise it would only be an allegation.
Anwar needs to follow the proper ways and processes stipulated by the constitution to prove he had indeed gathered the support of a majority of members of parliament (MPs), Muhyiddin said in a statement.
"Until proven otherwise, the Perikatan Nasional government still stands firm and I am the legitimate Prime Minister," he said, referring to his ruling coalition.
"I urge the people to remain calm to face this situation. This issue will be handled in good order in accordance with the legal processes and federal constitution," he said.
Earlier, Anwar, a former deputy prime minister and the leader of the opposition Pakatan Harapan coalition, told a press conference that he has a "strong, formidable and convincing majority" in the lower house of the parliament to establish a "stable" government.
But he declined to reveal how many members of the 222-seat lower house supported him, saying he is seeking an audience with Malaysia's king Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who has the right to appoint a new prime minister.
The National Palace confirmed that Anwar had indeed been granted an audience with Sultan Abdullah on Tuesday, but was postponed after the latter was admitted to the hospital.
At the moment, the King will continue to receive treatment in the hospital, said the statement. It added that the King advise the public to stay calm and take care of their personal health by abiding by the standard procedures because the country was still facing the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, while urging all parties to prioritize the people's wellbeing and the country.
Muhyiddin became prime minister in March, following the abrupt resignation of his predecessor Mahathir Mohamad, which led to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government that had been in place since 2018. But Muhyiddin's coalition only command a slim majority in the lower house of parliament.
According to Malaysia's constitution, the King shall appoint a prime minister who in his judgement is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the house.
The constitution also stipulates that if the prime minister ceases to command the majority, the prime minister shall tender the resignation of the cabinet unless at his request the King dissolves the parliament. Enditem
