The following may just be the news you will read on newspapers and online news portals throughout Malaysia come the morning of Sept 17th.
Scenario 1
Anwar is new PM!
by Iqbal Abd Ghaffar
Kuala Lumpur, Sept 16: After a 10 year exodus and unceremoniously expunged from the second most senior post in the government, Datuk Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim was succesfully installed as Malaysia’s sixth Prime Minister.
Immediately after an audience with the King, Anwar announced the slashing of petrol and diesel prices by 55 sen and 60 sen respectively to RM2.00 and RM1.90 effective midnight tonight.
Later that day at a packed press conference at Parliament, Anwar announced the scraping of the NEP for his coalition’s new Malaysian Economic Agenda (MEA) and the tabling of a new budget immediately after hari raya holidays.
“This is a win for the rakyat. The rakyat has tirelessly fought for reformasi, and today is a day where the struggles of the rakyat finally materialize.”
“There is no time for me to waste. Our country has been crippled, the economy is ailing, and the rakyat is suffering. I have promised for reforms, and I will deliver what I had promised. It starts with the reduction in fuel prices immediately at midnight tonight.”
Anwar’s coalition now controls 138 seats in Parliament. This was made possible by large defections of BN lawmakers from Sabah, Sarawak into Pakatan Rakyat.
Barisan Nasional has for the very first time become the opposition controlling only 72 seats. Barisan Nasional is now made up of only UMNO, MCA, and MIC. Gerakan and PPP has chosen to be independant.
Datuk Seri Abdullah has resigned as president of UMNO on Sept 10th. Najib now helms as the acting President of UMNO and acting chairperson of the shrunken Barisan Nasional. Najib was not reachable for comments.
“I will announce it in due time,” Anwar told reporters when asked to comment about the formation of his new cabinet. – IAG Today
Chronology of Anwar’s comeback
8 Mar – BN loses customary 2/3 majority, Opposition controls 82 seats, and BN 140.
31 Jul – Wan Azizah resigns as MP for Permatang Pauh
6 Aug – Nomination Day for Permatang Pauh by-elections
16 Aug – Polling Day. Anwar wins with 15,671 majority
18 Aug – Sworn in as MP of Permatang Pauh in Parliament
5 Sept – Sabah component parties leaves BN
6 Sept – All component parties from the Peninsular leaves coalition except for MCA and MIC
7 Sept – 10 BN MPs joins Pakatan
8 Sept – 5 BN Ministers resign, Sarawak component parties leave BN.
9 Sept – Extraordinary Parliament session called
10 Sept – Abdullah resigns as PM
12 Sept – Motion of selecting Anwar as caretaker government submitted
15 Sept – Anwar forms caretaker government. Anwar faces King for consent.
16 Sept – Anwar takes oath as sixth Prime Minister.