GE15: Anwar confident of garnering support to get a simple majority to form government, subject to Agong’s approval

SUBANG JAYA, Nov 20 – Malaysia’s 15th General Election saw no party winning a required simple majority of 112 seats to form the new government, leaving a hung parliament and parties already on high gear to start negotiations towards a collaborative government.

Pakatan Harapan (PH), which has the largest bloc in parliament, winning 82 seats in the just concluded 15th General Election, is confident that a simple majority of 112 seats via negotiations can be reached by the party to form a government.

Speaking at a press conference at 3am today, PKR President Anwar Ibrahim said PH had accepted the decision of the electorate and acknowledged that not one single party had gained the majority number of seats and that a process of negotiation would have to take place towards forming a new government, subject to approval from the King.

Anwar, who also hinted at PH having crossed the required number to form a government, however declined to give details of any ongoing negotiations with any other party but said that he would be presenting the plan to the King for approval.

In a press conference earlier, Muhyiddin Yassin, chairman of Perikatan Nasional, which has secured 73 seats, said that the party will be also looking at negotiating with other parties with the aim of forming a new government, also subject to the plan being approved by the King.

Both Anwar and Muhyiddin meanwhile have dismissed of any chance of their parties working together, which would leave them with possible partnerships with either parties from Sabah and Sarawak or Barisan Nasional. Barisan has 30 seats, GPS 22 seats, GRS 6, Independent 6.

Meanwhile, a stable and strong government that Malaysians had hoped to wake up to on Monday, Nov 20, will remain elusive for now until the parties strike a deal with their potential partners.

— WE