‘ No working together ’
The King, who had summoned both Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, sought to solve the country’s impasse by suggesting a unity government. Muhyiddin’s Perikatan Nasional, however, is sticking to its decision not to work with Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan. And so the search for the 10th Prime Minister goes on.
LUMPUR: Royal summons, hurried meetings, hastily drafted statements, media stakeouts and an avalanche of fake news later, Malaysians will still have to wait with bated breath to find out who will lead the country.
“No decision yet,” Pakatan Harapan chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told the press.
He and Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had both been summoned by Yang di-pertuan Agong Al-sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-mustafa Billah Shah to Istana Negara at 4.30pm yesterday as no coalition had the majority following last Saturday’s general election.
Both are also the prime minister candidates of their respective coalitions.
Addressing the press outside the palace gates after his audience with the King, Anwar said there was no decision yet on who would assume the top job.
He said this when asked if he had been appointed interim prime minister, as reported by some media outlets and spread via social media.
He added that the decision would solely be at the discretion of the King.
“We have been summoned by the Yang di-pertuan Agong and I have expressed my profound gratitude for the opportunity given,” he added.
Anwar quipped that there was a vacancy for the prime minister post and it was open for applications.
He said for now, there was no question of forming a minority government.
“Given time, I think we will secure a simple majority as I have indicated earlier,” he said when asked if time would allow him to secure a majority.
Chants of “Reformasi” were earlier heard outside the palace gates.
In polling for the 15th General Election, Pakatan secured the most seats at 81 with an additional one by its ally Muda, while Perikatan picked up 73 seats.
Sources with knowledge of the matter have hinted that it is likely that Pakatan and Perikatan could have been given the mandate to form a unity government as the blocs with the highest and second highest number of seats.