Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia’s parliament continued to remain hung for the third day following Saturday’s GE15 – the first time in the nation’s history.
An attempt by the Agong for the leaders of the two largest coalitions, Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) to iron out their differences and agree to form a unity government also proved futile.
The Agong said he would decide on the appointment of the 10th Prime Minister soon. He has scheduled audiences with all 30 Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs today (Wednesday) to break the deadlock.
The Agong will meet the BN MPs one by one from 10.30am. He called on the people to accept the decision about the appointment and the formation of a new government whatever it may be.
“Let’s accept the decision of the people, accept the decision of the people’s representatives and accept the decision of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Please, be rational and we have to move on, we have to move forward for our beloved country.
“Let me make the decision as soon as possible,” Al-Sultan Abdullah said.
The GE15 on Saturday ended with no party obtaining a simple majority of 112 seats in the 222-seat Parliament to form the new government.
Pakatan Harapan obtained 82 seats, followed by Perikatan Nasional (73), Barisan Nasional (30), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (22), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (six), Warisan (three).
Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) and Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) secured one each, while the independents, two.
PH Chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the Agong has not made his decision on Malaysia’s 10th Prime Minister yet. However, Anwar expressed confidence that he would be able to secure a simple majority in time to form the federal government.
“No decision whatsoever [on PM] yet as of now. There’s a vacancy now, it is open for application,” he told reporters camped in front of the Istana Negara.
He relayed to the press His Majesty’s wish to form a stable government, after an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong earlier.
“His Majesty expressed his desire to form a strong government that is more inclusive in terms of race, religion, or region, to be able to allow the government to focus on solving the problems of the people and to resuscitate our economy.
“I expressed my utmost gratitude to His Majesty and said we will do our best and digest and devise and would wait for the final decision which is of course the discretion of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” Anwar added.
When asked further, Anwar also dismissed the possibility of a minority government, saying there “was no questions about it”.
Both Anwar’s PH and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s Perikatan Nasional (PN) could not prove they have a simple majority ahead of a 2pm deadline earlier Tuesday, causing both of them to be summoned by the Agong to decide on the formation of the government following three days of hung Parliament.
However, Muhyiddin left earlier than Anwar without addressing the media.
Malaysia’s Parliament is hung for the first time in the country’s 59-year history following the November 19 general election.
No coalition won a simple majority of 112 out of 222 seats in the Dewan Rakyat in the 15th general election.
The coalition with the most seats is Pakatan Harapan with 82 while Perikatan Nasional has 73.
The Barisan Nasional coalition, which had pushed for national polls to be held this year ahead of the GE14 expiry next year, only garnered 30 seats.
Two other major coalitions, Gabungan Parti Sarawak and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah have 23 and six seats respectively.
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