Malaysia’s Mahathir blames Anwar for PH collapse, says vote to oust Muhyiddin will fail

The former prime minister said the Pakatan Harapan coalition lacked the votes to remove the current government

He said long-time rival Anwar Ibrahim ‘has always been campaigning to get me to resign earlier’

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Malaysia's former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has said the opposition lacks a majority in parliament and will not have the votes to remove the new prime minister in a no-confidence vote. Photo: Reuters

Published: 2:46pm, 16 Mar 2020Updated: 11:36pm, 16 Mar 2020

Malaysia’s former leader Mahathir Mohamad warned that the opposition coalition may lack the support needed to remove the current government, while criticising his long-time rival Anwar Ibrahim for the collapse of his administration.

The Pakatan Harapan alliance, which was ousted from power last month, now had the backing of about 108 lawmakers, from 114 the morning before Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was inaugurated, Mahathir said in a Bloomberg Television interview with Haslinda Amin.

Earlier he had called for an immediate confidence vote once parliament reconvenes, which is now set for May 18.

Malaysia's former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad. Photo: Reuters

“We don’t have the majority in parliament,” Mahathir, 94, said in Kuala Lumpur on Monday. “I don’t think a vote of no confidence will resolve the problem.”

Last week he told a local newspaper that Muhyiddin was able to offer incentives to lawmakers. “Some of my supporters have switched allegiances to him, they have been made ministers … when he offers ministership, it’s hard for people to refuse. I cannot offer them anything.”