King to meet with Malay Rulers before deciding on new PM for Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 23 – The King, Sultan Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah will be holding a meeting with the Malay rulers tomorrow, Thursday 24 before a decision is made on the selection of the new Prime Minister for Malaysia.

In a statement issued today, following His Majesty’s meeting with Barisan Nasional leaders and GPS leaders earlier today, Sultan Abdullah said no Member of the Parliament has yet to received the required simple majority needed to be appointment as the Prime Minister.

The meeting with the other state rulers is in accordance with the Federal Constitution and is intended to help His Majesty to decide on one candidate who may garner the confidence of the Dewan Rakyat as a Prime Minister, the statement said.

The 15th General Election resulted in a hung parliament with no party winning the simple majority 112 seats to form a government.

The parties that had won the highest number of seats, PH with 82 seats, PN 73 seats were given a deadline till Monday 21st November to submit their proposals and the backing of a majority of 112 MPs to form the government.

Both the parties on Tuesday afternoon submitted their proposed coalition formation as well as their choice of the 10th Prime Minister.

However, neither party had the required 112 number of Members of Parliament support needed to form the government or have their candidate for Prime Minister to be endorsed by the King, a statement from Istana Negara said on Tuesday afternoon.

Following this, Sultan Abdullah summoned both Anwar and Muhyiddin to Istana Negara, late Tuesday afternoon where he is said to have suggested the formation of a unity government comprising Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional but this was turned down Muhyiddin.

Barisan Nasional, which won 30 seats in the election and GPS, which garnered 24 seats were then summoned to the palace on Wednesday for His Majesty to gauge their support for the candidates.

Both candidates did not get the numbers required.

–WE