KAJANG: The new government-Kerajaan Perpaduan Malaysia-will comprise Pakatan Harapan (PH), Barisan Nasional (BN) and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He also declared Monday a public holiday
Extending an olive branch to Perikatan Nasional, Anwar said he is ready to work with the coalition even though it had questioned his legitimacy as prime minister and PH's majority in forming the federal government.
Anwar said this was despite the discouraging comments made by former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is PN chairman.
"He said there should be preparation by this unity government to have its strength tested in Parliament.
"I want to say that we have set a parliamentary session to convene on Dec 19 and aside from the oath taking ceremony, there will be first a motion of vote of confidence from the government.
"So to me, there should not be worries about our legitimacy," he said in his first press conference as prime minister.
On the post of deputy prime minister, Anwar said it would be given to PH's strongest ally.
"At this moment, is Barisan Nasional (BN), and also the biggest component for Sabah and Sarawak is Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS). Thus, we will make a consideration."
Anwar said, as of this evening, the government he now leads has, apart from the PH component parties, the support of 30 BN parliamentarians and 22 from GPS.
"The question of the stability of this unity government, therefore, does not arise. But we do not discount the possibility of other parties joining us," he said.
Anwar also said he would keep his promise and not receive a salary for his position as prime minister.
This, he said, was to restore the confidence of the people in the administration.
"As I had announced before that the first step is to restore the confidence of the people so that they will not see that the ministers and leaders only think about salary.
"Therefore, I decided not to accept my salary as the prime minister," he said.