"UMNO Has The Numbers To Form A Government" - Annuar Musa Says Ahead Of Meeting With Agong
It is believed that the UMNO coalition will meet the Agong at 11am and 2pm today, 25 February.
By Yap Wan Xiang — 25 Feb 2020, 01:16 PM
Speculation that UMNO has gathered enough support to form a new government is running high after the party is said to have secured an audience with the King today, 25 February
According to Malay Mail, UMNO secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa has confirmed with the news portal that UMNO has formed a coalition with other parties and that the group is going to meet at Istana Negara later.
It is believed that they have secured an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at 11am and 2pm.
This comes after MIC leader M Saravanan expressed his confidence that Barisan Nasional can form a new government together with the inclusion of former PKR MPs and the pro-UMNO faction of Bersatu
The news portal also cited a Harian Metro article, which reported PAS secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan as saying that his "side" has gathered a total of 129 MPs' support - enough seats in the Dewan Rakyat to form a government.
The new coalition could be the next government, which consists of UMNO, PAS, Bersatu, Warisan, MPs loyal to Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, and Gabungan Parti Sarawak.
Previously, Gabungan Parti Sarawak stated that they are more comfortable working with PAS than with DAP
Gabungan Parti Sarawak president Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing said his party has agreed to support the new ruling coalition, but on a condition to not include the "arrogant" DAP in the administration, reported Malaysiakini.
"Personally, I would like us to be Pakatan Nasional-friendly, but not part of the PN administration," Dr James told The Borneo Post.
"This way we maintain our political independence. We want a stable national government. Political instability is not good for anyone."
Under the coalition name Pakatan Nasional, the UMNO-led coalition has these many seats in the Dewan Rakyat:
- UMNO: 39 seats
- MCA: Two seats
- MIC: One seat
- PAS: 18 seats
- Bersatu: 26 seats
- Gabungan Parti Sarawak: 18 seats
- MPs loyal to Azmin Ali: 11 seats
The total adds up to 115 seats, three seats more than a 112-seat simple majority.
The Pakatan Harapan government collapsed yesterday after Bersatu removed itself from the coalition
While a previous report claimed that six MPs followed interim Prime Minister Dr Mahathir in resigning from Bersatu, The Edge Markets reported that its secretary-general Datuk Marzuki Yahya as saying that the news is false.
"There is not a single MP of Bersatu who has left the party, as claimed by certain quarters," said Marzuki.
"The party remains intact and we will stay united in facing any obstacle that comes our way."
He also added that the party has unanimously rejected Dr Mahathir's resignation.
