Malaysia PM Anwar, Muhyiddin in sharp war of words as parliament floor test nears

Accusations, exchange of words come as PM Anwar’s administration prepares for a December 19 confidence vote in parliament

Anwar has fired back at opposition accusations of cheating, and raised allegations of Muhyiddin’s administration misappropriating public funds

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To prove his parliamentary majority, Anwar said that he will leave it to a confidence vote when the Dewan Rakyat, or lower house, convenes on December 19. Photo: AP

Published: 8:30am, 9 Dec 2022

Malaysia’s opposition has accused the new government of cheating its way into power, as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration prepares for a crucial confidence vote in parliament to prove he has the mandate to rule over the next five years.

Former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the outcome of two by-elections held on Wednesday was proof enough that the public did not approve of Anwar’s move to form a partnership between his Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition and the former ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) alliance in a unity government proposed by the king.

Muhyiddin’s Perikatan Nasional (PN) on Wednesday wrested from PH the parliamentary seat of Padang Serai in northern Kedah state by a margin of more than 16,000 votes, and went down the wire in the fight for the Pahang state seat of Tioman, which BN eventually retained by a slim edge of over 800 votes.

Former leader Muhyiddin Yassin said the outcome of two by-elections held on Wednesday was proof enough that the public did not approve of Anwar’s move to form a partnership between his Pakatan Harapan coalition and the former ruling Barisan Nasional alliance. Photo: AFP

“The results of the two by-elections show that the rakyat are not thrilled with the coalition of BN and PH [in government],” Muhyiddin said, using the Malay word for people.

“They are not confident in the ability of this mixed government headed by PH to lead the nation. Disappointed by the lies of PH and BN leaders during the GE15 campaign, many supporters of both parties shifted to PN,” he said, referring to the recently concluded national polls.

“To me, the lies by PH and BN in GE15 are the biggest electoral fraud ever.”

Anwar was sworn in as Malaysia’s 10th prime minister late last month, capping a 24-year-long quest to win the nation’s top office and days after a deeply divisive general election on November 19 that ended with no single party or coalition winning enough seats in parliament to claim the right to lead the country over the next term.

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