This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on October 30, 2018

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has brushed off speculation that with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) warming up to Umno members of parliament (MPs), this would derail his eventual appointment as Malaysia’s eighth prime minister.

“I have no reason to doubt the mutual agreement [with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad],” said the Pakatan Harapan de facto leader outside Parliament yesterday.

Anwar was responding to a statement by Prime Minister’s Office media and communications adviser Datuk A Kadir Jasin that about 40 Umno MPs could jump to PPBM, which is led by Dr Mahathir.

Speculation is rife that PPBM, which has 13 parliamentary seats, is building up its numbers to strengthen its hand in Pakatan Harapan, in which it is the smallest of four parties.

Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa, in a Twitter post on Sunday, said Kadir’s statement was a signal that “it is game over for Anwar”.

“Thank you (Annuar Musa) for his concern,” responded Anwar.

“I do not take this into account. It is the media’s interpretation which believe in the repeat of the massive historical 1998 conspiracy,” he said.

Anwar added that Pakatan has “this option” to bring in opposition MPs provided that they become independent MPs first. They would be scrutinised and accepted by the coalition only after a discussion among the coalition parties.

Commenting on the issue at the Parliament lobby yesterday, Annuar said: “Some were invited directly, [with] others through an intermediary. ”

 Earlier, Anwar told Parliament he supported Dr Mahathir’s assertion that the nation must know of the new reform initiatives brought about by Pakatan.

He also reiterated that any decision to be made by the government, particularly on policies, must go beyond the normal practice of taking the views of political elites and small groups of professionals only.

“The policies proposed [under such practice] like the New Economic Policy or the current reform agenda are usually considered inclusive.

“It is impossible for such policies to be considered inclusive, as long as they do not take into account the views of the rakyat across all races,” he said.