The two SDs, he said, were signed by former prime minister Najib Razak and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The two SDs were among the 15 from Umno MPs which, Anwar said, were sent directly to the palace.

The opposition leader and PKR president said it was also Pakatan Harapan’s stand not to accept SDs from the duo, although they had every right to back anyone.

Even in rejecting Najib and Zahid’s SDs, the opposition coalition had 118 MPs backing him as the next prime minister, the Port Dickson MP said.

Anwar went on to claim that after the SDs in support of him were signed, he was asked to give an assurance that Najib’s court case would be discontinued.

He was also told to use his powers as prime minister to ensure the trial would be discontinued.

“But I wasn’t prepared to do so.

“And even though I had the numbers to become the prime minister, I was not prepared to compromise on the independence of the judiciary,” he told reporters at an event in Port Dickson.

He said because he took such a stand, Najib had proposed another candidate and “denied me (that post)”.

On Monday, Umno’s Tajuddin Abdul Rahman claimed that Zahid had persuaded Umno MPs to sign SDs in support of Anwar.

The Pasir Salak MP also alleged that Zahid had signed such an SD.

In September 2020, Anwar announced that he had secured “strong, formidable and convincing” support from MPs to form a new government, six months after Perikatan Nasional came to power.

PN came to power in 2020, following the collapse of the PH government after Bersatu pulled out of the then ruling coalition.

We are live on Telegram, subscribe here for breaking news and the latest announcements.