Istana Negara: Anwar only gave number of MPs supporting him, not the list (updated)

PETALING JAYA: Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim met the King and gave him the number of MPs whom he claimed support him to be the next prime minister, but he did not give the names to verify his claim, says Istana Negara.

Comptroller of the Royal Household of Istana Negara Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said that the King had therefore advised the PKR president to follow and respect the legal process, as stated in the Federal Constitution.

"Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had an audience with the Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at Istana Negara at 11am this morning (Oct 13).

"This meeting was scheduled for Sept 22 but was postponed due to Sultan Abdullah's illness during which he was treated at National Heart Institute from Sept 21 to Oct 3.

"During the audience which lasted 25 minutes just now, Anwar had presented the total number of Dewan Rakyat members whom he claimed supported him.

“However, he did not present the list of names of the Dewan Rakyat members to support his claim.

"Therefore, Sultan Abdullah had advised Anwar to follow and respect the legal process as stated in the Federal Constitution, ” said Fadil in a statement on Tuesday (Oct 13).

Earlier today, Anwar had an audience with the King, during which he said he had informed the King that he had a "formidable majority" support from the MPs in his bid to be the next Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, Fadil said the King is also worried about the current spike in Covid-19 cases, which has led to a conditional movement control order (MCO) being imposed on large parts of the Klang Valley.

"On the current development of the Covid-19 pandemic, especially the conditional MCO on Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya that takes effect tomorrow (Oct 14), the Yang di-Pertuan Agong expresses his worry and advises the people to stay calm and be disciplined in taking care of their health by following the new norms and standard operating procedures, ” said Fadil.