Muhyiddin
Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today said that his coalition will serve in a check-and-balance role to the Pakatan Harapan government, in a sign of acceptance of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s appointment as the 10th Prime Minister.
In a congratulatory statement this afternoon, Muhyiddin’s latest remark follows an earlier statement he made on his refusal to accept Anwar’s appointment.
“With the federal government led by Pakatan Harapan, PN will play its role as a check-and-balance in Parliament by bringing the voices of the people in line with Malaysia’s parliamentary democracy,” he said in a brief statement.
Muhyiddin’s statement also seemed to distance his coalition from forming a unity government the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had asked due to a deadlock between parties which saw no majority reached, after the 15th general election ended inconclusively on Saturday.
Muhyiddin said that he had disagreed and stated that the coalition would stick to its stand of not working with PH “whatever the reason”.
Mahathir
Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has congratulated Anwar.
The 97-year-old politician conveyed his well wishes to Anwar through his Twitter account.
“I say my congratulations to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on his appointment as the 10th Prime Minister of Malaysia. All the best,” Dr Mahathir said.
Ismail Sabri
Former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob extended his congratulations to Anwar yesterday.
“I pray that the new government will be able to continue political stability and continue to preserve the country’s economic sustainability,” he said.
Australian PM
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined a list of heads of government who congratulated Anwar.
The warm greetings posted on Albanese’s Twitter account indicated that he expected the relationship to strengthen, which will ultimately benefit both countries.
“Congratulations @anwaribrahim on your inauguration as Malaysia’s Prime Minister.
“I look forward to continuing the long history of friendship and cooperation between our countries, working together through Asean for the benefit of our shared region,” he said.
Arab world leaders
Several leaders of the Arab world have congratulated Anwar.
According to the Bahrain News Agency (BNA), Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa expressed his congratulations to Anwar, as well as wishing Malaysians continued progress and prosperity.
The Qatar News Agency (QNA) also reported the congratulatory message of the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the Prime Minister and Interior Minister of Qatar Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdul Aziz Al Thani to Anwar.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of Yemen, Dr Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed, also conveyed his congratulatory message to Anwar, as well as praying for Malaysia’s progress.
He also expressed his hope that the fraternal relationship between Yemen and Malaysia will remain intact and that the bilateral relationship between the two countries in various fields will be strengthened for the sake of common interests.
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in congratulating Anwar has wished further progress and prosperity for the brotherly people of Malaysia.
King Salman, who is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques expressed his sincere congratulations and best wishes of success to Anwar.
“In his cable, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques expressed his sincere congratulations and best wishes of success to the Malaysian Prime Minister, and wished further progress and prosperity for the brotherly people of Malaysia,” reported Saudi Press Agency.
Meanwhile, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman in congratulating Anwar also expressed the same by wishing the Malaysian people further progress and prosperity under his new leadership.
US Secretary of State
The US has congratulated Anwar on his appointment as the prime minister and described the 15th general election as “a demonstration of the power of democracy”.
US secretary of state Antony Blinken said both countries have forged a strong relationship, a comprehensive partnership that is rooted in close economic, people-to-people, and security ties.
“On behalf of the US, I congratulate the people of Malaysia for their national elections and Anwar for his appointment as prime minister,” he said in a statement.
Blinken said the US is looking forward to deepening the friendship and cooperation with Malaysia based on shared democratic principles and respect for human rights and the rule of law.
“We remain committed to working with Malaysia to advance a free and open, connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient Indo-Pacific region,” he said.
India, Pakistan, Afghanistan
India and Pakistan have expressed hope for further strengthening relations with Malaysia under the new Prime Minister.
“I look forward to working closely together to further strengthen the India-Malaysia Enhanced Strategic Partnership,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a congratulatory message on Thursday evening.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a tweet extended his felicitations to Anwar on becoming prime minister.
“I look forward to working closely with him to further deepen the longstanding fraternal ties between our two friendly countries,” Shehbaz said.
Afghanistan’s interim government said it wished the new Malaysian prime minister success during his tenure.
“Afghanistan and Malaysia are fraternal Islamic nations that have friendly relations since 1957. Malaysia has a special place in IEA (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) foreign policy and we stand ready for joint work with the new government in a number of areas,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Meanwhile, Anwar in his tweet thanked Modi for his congratulatory wishes, saying India is an important partner for Malaysia.
“I am looking forward to working closely with you to strengthen ties and cooperation in various areas including trade, investment and culture,” he added.
Well wishes from other world leaders included messages from Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong, Indonesian president Joko Widodo and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The Dalai Lama also wished Anwar “every success in meeting the challenges that lie ahead”.