"There's no question about cutting deals with individuals as alleged by some quarters," Mr Anwar said.
"Frankly, I do not think it will be a smooth and easy ride for Anwar," said Oh Ei Sun, senior fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs. It's unlikely Mr Anwar will succeed as the government would've used resources to lure back defectors from the time Mr Anwar first staked claim to power three weeks ago, he said.
The Barisan Nasional coalition supports Mr Muhyiddin as prime minister and won't work with Mr Anwar, its secretary-general Annuar Musa wrote on Facebook. Mr Annuar is also a party leader of the United Malays National Organisation, which Mr Muhyiddin counts among his biggest supporters.