KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA — Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri, caretaker Prime Minister and UMNO vice president said Barisan National (BN) Supreme Council has decided not to support any political coalition to form the new government.
He wrote on Facebook: “As I promised yesterday that I will not be with Pakatan Harapan (PH) no matter what happens. ”
“Alhamdulillah, BN’s Supreme Council has decided not to support any coalition in forming the government. BN does not support either Pakatan Harapan or Perikatan Nasional. ”
“For now, BN has agreed to remain in the opposition,” said the Malaysia 9th Prime Minister
Following yesterday’s meeting with Pakatan Harapan leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, BN held its Supreme Council meeting but failed to reach any official conclusion on which coalition it would support to form the next federal government.
The discussion among BN top leaders and MPs continues today at United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) headquarters in World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL).
The Malaysia King had given his consent to extend the deadline for coalitions to submit their coalition numbers and candidates for the prime minister’s post.
Yesterday, Nina Sabrina Ismail Sabri, daughter of Ismail Sabri, shared an alleged WhatsApp conversation of Ismail Sabri on an Instagram story, claiming that his father is willing to be sacked from UMNO instead of working with PH.
“I am ready to be fired….I will not work with PH,” read the message shared by Nina yesterday with the caption “Biar tak berkuasa, jgn tak berprisip” (Better to be powerless than to be without principle).
While another UMNO deputy chief, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan or better known as Tok Mat, suggested that BN should accept the Malaysia voters’ decision, and let PH and Perikatan National (PN) form the next government as these two coalitions had the most seats.
Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, caretaker defence minister also called UMNO to be in the opposition. “I am willing to be sacked by the party and will never change my firm stance on the matter, ” he said.
MCA chief says his party is ready to play the role of opposition
Wee Ka Siong, party chief for BN component party MCA, said in the statement that his party also prepared to perform their role as opposition to provide checks and balances, in the absence of the people’s mandate to BN to form the government.
PN claims to have already secured 113 seats
Pakatan Harapan(PH) and Perikatan National (PN), each claimed on Sunday they had secured the support they needed to form a government after Malaysia’s hotly contested polls saw no party emerge with a clear majority of parliamentary seats.
PH coalition led by Anwar won 82 seats in GE15, while the PN coalition led by ex- Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin gained a total of 73 seats.
BN with its 30 seats would have been able to assist both sides to achieve a simple majority in an attempt to form the next government.
Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, PN secretary-general issued a statement to claim that PN has submitted more than 112 statutory declarations from members of parliament, supporting Muhyiddin to become Malaysia’s 10th prime minister.
The coalition issued another statement today on 11 am, claiming that they had received another statutory declaration (SD) from one Member of Parliament, without revealing the identity.
GPS: leave it to the King to decide on who the next PM
Abang Johari Openg, chairman of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), earlier claimed that GPS agreed to form a coalition federal government with PN, BN and GRS, in the interest of the country’s political stability.
However, his statement was immediately refuted by BN chairman Zahid Hamidi, stressing that BN has never once negotiated with GPS to give its agreement on forming a federal government with PN.
Malaysia media had reported that Abang Jo had later issued another statement, saying GPS will leave it to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to decide on who the next prime minister should be.
“Considering the political turmoil in Peninsular Malaysia, GPS is of the opinion that the people’s mandate should be respected,” said Abang Jo in the statement.
221 MPs elected, poll for Padang Serai seat to be held on 7 December
P220 Baram parliamentary seat, which was earlier suspended on polling day due to bad weather conditions, was resumed on 21 Nov. The final result showed GPS candidate Anyi Ngau having successfully defended the seat with 18,399 votes over Pakatan Harapan’s Roland Engan, who gained 11,060 votes. Anyi Ngau won with a 7,339 majority.
This means GPS has garnered 23 seats in total.
As of now, 221 Members of Parliament have already been successfully elected.
There is still one parliamentary seat, P017 Padang Serai pending to be polled on 7 December.
The poll was postponed as PH candidate M Karupaiya died after collapsing while campaigning.