Malaysia’s PM Anwar Ibrahim set to plan reformist agenda after winning confidence vote

Motion of confidence in Anwar’s leadership was passed by voice vote in parliament’s lower house, after nearly four hours of debating

Anwar can now focus on laying out his priorities, including to revitalise the economy and ‘further open up the democratic space’, observers say

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Malaysia’s PM Anwar Ibrahim arrives at Parliament House in Kuala Lumpur ahead of a confidence vote. Photo: EPA-EFE

Hadi Azmiin Kuala LumpurandJoseph Sipalan

Published: 6:38pm, 19 Dec 2022Updated: 6:07pm, 21 Dec 2022

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Monday consolidated his position in parliament as a majority of the 222-seat parliament voted in favour of his leadership in a historic confidence vote.

The motion of confidence in Anwar’s leadership was passed by voice vote in the Dewan Rakyat, or parliament’s lower house, after nearly four hours of debating.

The vote was earlier expected to provide concrete proof that the prime minister commanded support of a supermajority or two-thirds of the house via bloc voting. However, the numbers were reflected in the results of the vote for the new house speaker and two deputies.

After parliament was adjourned, opposition whip, Takiyuddin Hassan told reporters that they denied Anwar the chance to prove his numbers by not calling for a bloc vote, saying that the whole confidence matter is unnecessary as the King had already appointed Anwar as prime minister.

Lawmakers gather for the vote of confidence at the first parliament sitting on December 19, 2022. Photo: Prime Minister’s Office via AP

“The number of votes in support of the PM is therefore unknown,” said Takiyuddin who was a former law minister.