He said Anwar’s recent moves to unseat the Muhyiddin Yassin government was “clearly the work of a power-crazy individual driven by selfish and egotistical motives with a pathological sense of entitlement as if the post of prime minister is his birthright”.

Last month, Anwar declared he had the majority support of MPs in the Dewan Rakyat enabling him to form a new government. He had an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong earlier this month to press his case.

Azmin, an Anwar confidante and former PKR deputy president, fell out with Anwar and left to team up with Muhyiddin and PPBM earlier this year.

He said: “In his relentless quest to become prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim has resorted to outright lies as well as subterfuge not only against the nation but even against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah).”

He said Anwar’s outburst yesterday – about the country’s possible descent into dictatorship (through a state of emergency) – was “an act of utter recklessness”.

Azmin said political leaders, regardless of their affiliation, must put aside differences and join forces with the people and government to fight the pandemic.

He criticised opposition members for sowing fear and resentment among the rakyat against the government’s “earnest efforts at securing public health and safety while ensuring economic recovery”.

“Under these circumstances, it is only right and proper that we stand united behind all efforts at mitigating the pandemic and flattening the curve while ensuring minimal disruption to the economy,” he said.