KUALA LUMPUR: Former Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman's revelation on the existence of statutory declarations (SDs) backing Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the next prime minister has answered the ridicule faced by the PKR leader on the matter.
PKR information chief Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin said the revelation proved that the Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman was not lying when he said he possessed sufficient support to form a new government.
"His (Tajuddin's) statement today clarified that PH and Anwar had sufficient number of MPs' support to retake the government after the people's mandate was betrayed through the Sheraton Move.
"Therefore, the ridicule from some public chanting that Anwar lied when he stated that he had strong and convincing support on Sept 22, 2020, has been answered," he said in a statement, here today.
Tajuddin, who is the Pasir Salak member of parliament, held a "tell-all" press conference today, revealing that there was an SD among Umno MPs to back Anwar as prime minister.
He had also urged Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to resign honourably in the party's interests.
In September 2020, Anwar expressed confidence in having a majority of almost two-thirds of MPs to form a new government to bring down the government, then led by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Anwar also made a similar statement in February 2020, with the Port Dickson MP saying he was optimistic of having enough support to be elected as the eighth prime minister.
Shamsul Iskandar said Tajuddin's statement also legitimised PH's attempt to take back the people's mandate, which it won in the 14th general election (GE14) in 2018.
"Tajuddin's statement today also revealed that betrayal and personal agendas had thwarted (PH) efforts and attempts to retake Putrajaya.
"Naturally, we must not give space nor compromise to leaders accused or convicted in court of corrupt practices.
"They must have their day in court because the law must be allowed to take its course," he said.