KUALA LUMPUR – Perikatan Nasional (PN) has officially declined the invitation by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to join his unity government and will remain as an opposition bloc, said its chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin.
Tan Sri Muhyiddin said his coalition will provide an “effective” check-and-balance role to the premier’s administration “in the spirit of nurturing democracy”.
“PN would like to thank Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the Prime Minister, for his invitation ... but PN will play the role of a credible opposition to bring the voice of the people to Parliament, as well as to ensure a corruption-free governance with integrity in line with the caring, clean and stable principles,” Mr Muhyiddin said on Friday.
“In order to ensure political stability and the well-being of the people, PN is ready to pioneer other forms of cooperation with the government within the scope of the relationship between the government and the opposition,” he added.
Earlier, PN’s ally Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) had said on Friday said it will discuss with all component parties of the PN coalition about whether to accept the invitation by Mr Anwar to join his unity government.
Datuk Seri Takiyuddin also said that PAS is grateful that the crisis surrounding the national leadership after the 15th General Election has been resolved harmoniously and peacefully, and that it accepts the King’s decision.
“We respect and congratulate the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on his decision and the powers provided under the law, especially in the matter of the appointment of the Prime Minister based on the Federal Constitution,” he said.
Datuk Seri Anwar, 75, was sworn in as Malaysia’s 10th prime minister on Thursday, ending a 24-year wait to lead the country.
The Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman has set Dec 19 for Parliament to convene, with a vote of confidence being the first order of business.
Mr Anwar and Mr Muhyiddin, also 75, had been deadlocked and unable to gather the 112 MPs needed for a simple majority in the legislature.
After Umno confirmed early on Thursday that it would join a unity government, departing from the BN coalition’s earlier stance of remaining in opposition, other parties across the country followed suit.
