TAMBUNAN, Sept 25  -- Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today questioned Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s claim that he has obtained majority parliamentary support to form a new government.

Muhyiddin said the PKR president could not specify the number of Members of Parliament (MPs) who were allegedly backing him.

 “He made a statement and when asked on the number supporting him and who have given their SD of support, he merely said to wait for the answer.

“But until today I myself also do not know (the number); his claim may or may not be true,” he said when speaking at a Perikatan Nasional (PN) rally here today.

Anwar, who is Opposition leader, had told a press conference two days ago that he had secured “strong and convincing” support from MPs to form a government to replace the PN administration led by Muhyiddin.

Muhyiddin said all MPs of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) had already affirmed their support for his government and denied backing Anwar.

In fact, several UMNO MPs said to be supporting Anwar had also denied backing him, he added.

“In the few days following the (Anwar’s) announcement, many statements of denial have been issued by UMNO MPs. They are not in the list.  

“With their denials, I have become more doubtful (of his claim), maybe it’s just a political statement,” he said.

Muhyiddin said Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun had also told him that he remains the Prime Minister.

“Maybe when the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is shown evidence (of support), if there is, then His Majesty would definitely summon me for an audience but until now I have not been called,” he said.

Meanwhile, PN secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin described Anwar’s claim as nothing more than a political gimmick.

He said it was merely the Port Dickson MP’s “September dream” to be the prime minister.

“The claim was not backed by evidence, the number of seats; in fact, our leaders who were supposedly in the list supporting Anwar have denied the matter,” Hamzah said, when asked to comment on Anwar’s claim.

 -- BERNAMA