Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin insists that Perikatan Nasional (PN) has the numbers to form the government of Malaysia.
He also informed the Yang di-Pertuan Agong that PN will not work with Pakatan Harapan (PH) to form the new government.
This comes after Muhyiddin and PH leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim were summoned by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah to Istana Negara at 4.30pm, as none of the coalitions had the simple majority to form the government.
Muhyiddin, during a brief press conference outside his residence in Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur this evening, showed a file said to contain documents and statutory declarations to show that 115 MPs had declared their support for PN to form the government.
The documents were submitted online yesterday and that the palace had acknowledged receiving the documents.
“When we emailed the documents, we had proven that we have the support of more than the 112 MPs, more than the simple majority required in the Federal Constitution,” said Muhyiddin.
“We can form the government, but when I sought an audience today, I was told it’s insufficient.
“I’m unsure what is the reason behind it but I have the proof here,” he added while pointing to the file.
As it was said that no coalition had sufficient numbers, Muhyiddin said the Agong had suggested that PN work with PH to form a unity government.
“But we will not work together with PH. We’ve discussed this from the start and we continue to maintain our stand. We do not agree.”
Muhyiddin revealed he had signed a document at the palace stating he did agree with the proposal to form a unity government with PH.
“That is the stand we have taken,” he added.
Earlier, Anwar said Al-Sultan Abdullah had expressed his desire that a strong, formidable government that is more inclusive in terms of race, religion, and region be formed. This would allow the government to focus on resolving the problems faced by the rakyat and resuscitate the nation’s economy.
Anwar also stressed that no decision was made over who would be Malaysia’s 10th prime minister, as the Agong is scheduled to meet 30 Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs individually tomorrow morning at Istana Negara.
BN, earlier this morning, had said that it would not strike an alliance with either PH or PN, adding it would be happy to remain as the opposition, respecting the people’s mandate following its pathetic outing in Malaysia’s 15th General Election.
The process of meeting the BN MPs, according to a statement by the palace, is to enable the King to make a decision on who to appoint as prime minister.
“I expressed my gratitude to His Highness and said that we will do our best, digest his advice, and wait for the final decision, which of course, is at the discretion of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” Anwar said outside the palace grounds.
When asked if he had been named prime minister, Anwar replied: “No decision has been made at this point in time”.
He also joked that the position of prime minister was open to applications.
Anwar also said there were no talks of a minority government leading the nation.
PH secured 82 parliamentary seats out of the 220 seats contested in GE15 held on Nov 19. PN won 73 seats, while BN only managed 30.
Anwar was optimistic that given time, PH would be able to secure a simple majority.
Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) this morning, had reiterated its stand to form a coalition with PN, Barisan Nasional and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
Due to the latest political scenario in Peninsular Malaysia, GPS said the people’s mandate must be respected, and as such, would leave it to the Agong to decide on who will be the prime minister to lead the new government.
