The 15th General Election in Malaysia held yesterday resulted in a hung parliament – as widely anticipated.
As at 3.52am, the two major coalitions in the country, Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional, secured 80 and 73 seats respectively – not enough to obtain a simple majority of 111 seats of the 220 parliamentary seats contested.
Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, in a press conference at 3am, said he would speak to leaders from Sabah and Sarawak over the next course of action. He also extended an invitation to any party that shares its principles to form a caring, clean, and stable government.
However, he ruled out working with Pakatan Harapan.
Muhyiddin mentioned he had received a letter from Istana Negara detailing what needs to be done next.
It is understood that the leaders of the main political parties and coalitions have been asked to suggest an alliance to form a new government.
The Agong may oversee the process, and after looking at the suggestions and numbers, he could name the prime minister latest by Monday evening.
Pakatan Harapan leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in a press conference at 3.30am, claimed that his coalition had formed the biggest bloc.
“We have managed to get the support of MPs to form of a simple majority, subject to the normal processes,” said Anwar, who won the Tambun seat.
“We have all the documents ready. We will first submit (the documents) to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.”
When told that Muhyiddin said Perikatan Nasional had the numbers to form the government, Anwar replied: “It is impossible, we have it (the support) in writing.”
“I’m submitting facts, not rumours. Rumours, you ask Muhyiddin,” he added.
Barisan Nasional received a drubbing after only securing 30 seats. Among its casualties were Khairy Jamaluddin (who contested in Sungai Buloh), Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz (Kuala Selangor), Tengku Razaleigh Tengku Hamzah (Gua Musang), Tan Sri Liow Tiong Lai (Bentong), Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran (Sungai Siput), Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, and Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican (Kepala Batas).
As the negotiations among the coalitions and other parties take place, all eyes are now on Istana Negara.
“The hung parliament was widely expected. So, no surprises there,” said political analyst Associate Professor Dr Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk.
“The only decision the Yang di-Pertuan Agong can make is based on his reading over who has command in terms of the numbers.
“We can revisit what had happened after the ‘Sheraton Move’, refer to that as the Malaysian experience, although we have seen hung parliaments in other mature democracies.”
Following the infamous Sheraton Move in 2020, the Yang di-Petuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, had interviewed MPs privately to find out who would be the right person to lead the country.
This led to Muhyiddin being named the country’s eighth prime minister, and later Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob as Malaysia’s ninth prime minister.
Azeem said this may not happen this time as the Agong does not need to consult his brother rulers.
“It’s not stipulated in the Federal Constitution (to do so),” reminded Azeem.
“The most important criteria is that it is based on the decision by the Parliamentarians themselves, in consultation with their party leaders.
“The decision (of naming a prime minister) is the prerogative of the MPs. Based on the Malaysian experience, the party leaders (will) still have a say. Party discipline is very strong here.”
Articles 40 (2)(a) and 43 (2)(a) of the Federal Constitution state that the appointment of the prime minister is the discretionary function of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. It, however, has some guidelines.
Al-Sultan Abdullah would be remembered as the first Agong who had seen four prime ministers (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Muhyiddin, Ismail Sabri, and the yet-to-be-named 10th prime minister) while on the throne, and having sworn in three of them into office.
Azeem said such an unprecedented ‘distinction’ does not translate into the Agong intruding into politics.
“We fall back on the constitution … it is based on his decision.”
The politicians and their respective coalitions may also establish a Confidence and Supply Agreement before meeting the King. This is to convince the Agong that they will uphold stability and avoid any disagreements, as in the past four years.
A unity government could, however, result in a bloated Cabinet as the prime minister would be forced to satisfy or appease the various MPs and coalitions in exchange for their support. All this with a possible global recession looming next year.
There are also other alternatives highlighted by observers based on precedents set abroad. One of them is for a minority government to be formed. Another, calls for the Agong to name a caretaker prime minister to give the coalitions more time to find common ground.
“Those options should not be on the table. We need a government. The whole idea of having a government is to deal with the issues faced by the country,” Azeem added.
