KUCHING: Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg is sceptical about Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s claim of having majority support in parliament.
According to political analyst Dr Jeniri Amir, Abang Johari had described Anwar’s claim as weird and rather cynical.
“During the Malaysia Day celebration in Sibu recently, the chief minister mentioned that GPS was solidly behind Perikatan Nasional (PN) and he gave its full support to the Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin,” Jeniri said in a programme aired over Astro Awani on Wednesday night which discussed the topic ‘Anwar’s PM Bid –Timing Weird or Strategic’.
He further expounded that Abang Johari, who is also the GPS chairman, was not really convinced if Anwar had the majority numbers in Parliament.
“Based on the statement made by the chief minister, it is very obvious that GPS is not with Anwar Ibrahim.
“Without GPS’ support, there’s no way that Anwar Ibrahim can get the numbers (Members of Parliament).
“To me, there are many questions rather than answers based on the claim made by Anwar,” he explained.
Asked on whether the support from GPS was still in play, Jeniri said this would depend very much on what Anwar could offer that PN did not.
He contended that it would be possible for GPS to turn to Anwar, if the terms were favourable.
“Anything is possible in politics. Bear in mind that when BN (Barisan Nasional) lost in the general election in 2018, Sarawak BN parties had pulled out from the coalition and formed a new entity called GPS.
On the Sabah election, Jeniri opined that Anwar’s claim could swing the ground sentiment in favour of Warisan Plus if Anwar could garner support from Bersatu or Umno MPs.
“I cannot give a straight yes or no answer. It all depends on a few factors.
“First, whether Bersatu and Umno will give support to Anwar. And whether the 250,000 voters from Sabah who are now residing in the peninsula will be going back to Sabah to cast their votes,” he said.
However, he doubted if voters in the peninsula would fly back to Sabah during the pandemic.
“I doubt if they would go back to Sabah because of two factors.
“Firstly, the flights back to Sabah are expensive and secondly, because the Covid-19 pandemic is still very serious in Sabah.”
On Wednesday, Anwar announced that he had a solid and convincing majority in parliament to take over from the current PN government.
However, the political bombshell has been met with scepticism due to the political turbulence in the previous Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration helmed by Tun Dr Mahathir seven months ago.
Anwar had also refused to reveal the details of the MPs supporting him, claiming that he was supposed to have an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah on Tuesday which was postponed due to the king’s health.
