Malaysian police summon Anwar Ibrahim in probe into viral list of backers for his PM bid
- The opposition leader met Malaysia’s king on Tuesday to present him with a list of 121 lawmakers backing his bid for the premiership
- Complaints were filed with police after the list went viral on social media, and Anwar was asked to give a statement on Friday
“To date, a total of 113 police reports have been received,” Huzir said.
Malaysia’s Anwar urges ‘patience’ after meeting king over his PM bid
Police did not detail any of the complaints, but Huzir said investigations were guided by provisions under the penal code and a separate multimedia law covering statements that could cause public mischief or harassment.
Punishment for such offences include a jail term of up to two years and fines.
Anwar’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
On Tuesday, Anwar said he had submitted documents to the king to back his claim to the premiership, but the palace later said he only provided the number of lawmakers who he said backed his bid and not their identities.
Malaysia’s Umno threatens to pull out of ruling coalition
Anwar’s claim to the premiership has triggered a fresh bout of political wrangling in Malaysia, which is grappling with a recent spike in coronavirus cases and it’s worst recession since the global financial crisis.
Should Anwar succeed in securing the post, it would be the culmination of a 22-year long quest, which included nearly 10 years in jail on sodomy charges he denied.
It would also mean Malaysia would have its third prime minister this year.
