PAKATAN Harapan (PH) chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been sworn in as Malaysia’s 10th prime minister.
The swearing-in ceremony at the Balairong Seri in the National Palace kicked off at 5pm sharp, with the PKR president accepting his letter of appointment from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and taking his oath of office, loyalty and secrecy.
Things got off to an awkward start when the incoming Tambun MP, who was all smiles, walked straight to the table prepared for him to sign the necessary papers before reading out his letter in front of the Agong, leading to him walking back to Sultan Abdullah to do so.
After signing the documents, these were passed to Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat to sign off on them, who, in turn, passed them to incumbent chief secretary to the government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali.
Present in the audience were top guns from PH and Barisan Nasional (BN) – such as DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli, UPKO president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau, BN chairman-cum-UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and UMNO deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
Other high-ranking public officials seen include Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun, Chief of Defence Forces Gen Tan Sri Affendi Buang, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani, Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun.
Anwar, 75, who was clad in a black Baju Melayu and gold-embroidered sampin, was seated next to his wife and former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who will now be Malaysia’s first lady.
Anwar’s appointment as PM comes on the heels of political turmoil following the results of Saturday’s (Nov 19) polls, in which no single party won the 112 seats required for a simple majority.
After intense political horse-trading and claims of “I have the numbers”, Sultan Abdullah decreed earlier today that all parties and coalitions are to let bygones be bygones and come together for the sake of the rakyat, which will see a unity government being formed soon.
Anwar’s Cabinet line-up, which will most likely see BN leaders working side-by-side with once-political foe PH, is expected to be announced in the near future. – Nov 24, 2022
