Zahid Says Agong Has Decreed BN To Form A Unity Government
"Tuanku's decree was to form a unity government," the Barisan Nasional (BN) chairperson said.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong today, 23 November, decreed to form a unity government amidst a political impasse that continues to affect the country days after historic elections resulted in a hung parliament
This comes after two of the biggest opposing coalitions, Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Perikatan Nasional (PN), failed to win the required seats to form a government after the 15th General Election (GE15).
PH has 82 seats, while PN has 73 seats.
A coalition or a party needs at least 112 seats to form a simple majority government.
This is where Malaysia's oldest coalition, Barisan Nasional (BN), comes into play. While BN suffered its worst-ever election defeat in GE15, the 30 seats it won have thrust upon it the role of the kingmaker.
PN has the support of a number of outside coalitions including Sarawak's main coalition, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), which has won 22 seats. Yet, this does not give PN the numbers it needs.
Amidst this, the Agong yesterday, 22 November, invited PH chairperson Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and PN chairperson Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to the Palace to find a solution. However, Muhyiddin refused Agong's suggestion that his coalition should work with Anwar's coalition to form a unity government.
Left with no choice, the Agong then invited the 30 BN members of parliament (MPs) to the Palace this morning in order to come to an understanding so Malaysia can have its 10th Prime Minister.
However, only three BN MPs — BN chairperson Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, his deputy Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, and BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir — went to the Palace.
Zahid, after his audience at the Palace, said that the Agong has decreed that BN's 30 MPs must take part in a unity government
"Tuanku's decree was to form a unity government," Zahid told Malaysiakini.
However, this creates a problem for BN as the coalition has refused to back either PH or PN.
In a statement yesterday, BN's Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that they have decided that the coalition will not back any other political coalition to form a government and will remain in opposition.
When asked today if BN will stand by its position not to back any other political coalition in forming the federal government, Zahid told Malaysiakini, "That is not Tuanku's order".
According to the BN chairperson, the matter will now be deliberated by the UMNO supreme council, which is set to meet at 8pm tonight, and later the BN supreme council.
Meanwhile, the Agong will be meeting the other Malay rulers for a special meeting at the Istana Negara tomorrow for further discussions:
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