Dewan Rakyat meets on Monday to determine next PM

THE race is on to be the next Malaysian prime minister. D-Day is Monday, when the Dewan Rakyat meets in a special session for MPs to elect among them the one best suited to be prime minister.

Interim Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced the special session hours after another audience with the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.

According to him,  after meeting individually with almost all of the 222 MPs, the King couldn’t find anyone who had a clear majority to be chosen as PM. 

Mahathir did not say how many names were proposed by the MPs to the King and who they are.

Besides Mahathir, reports have mentioned Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

No news from Istana Negara other than that there will be a special meeting of the Rulers Council tomorrow Feb 28 to discuss the issue.

To be clear, the MPs can show who among them has won their confidence to be the PM, but it is up to the King then to appoint the MP he feels commands a majority in the Dewan Rakyat.

Over a hectic five days, from today right up to the start of the parliamentary session on Monday, intense lobbying for support is underway, with statements and declarations of support as well as sharp criticisms of the opponents being the order of the day.

This evening, after announcing an economic stimulus package for the country, Mahathir reiterated that he is still rooting for a non-partisan government, which many have interpreted as a unity government, contending that its focus would be on national interests instead of those of political parties.

(To catch up, here are the previous live updates for Feb 26, Feb 25 and Feb 24.)

As Malaysia still waits for clarity, FocusM brings you live updates on the unfolding situation on Day 5.

Latest:

11.55pm: The Pakatan Harapan presidential council has said that it is inappropriate for the interim Prime Minister to have preceded the Yang di-Pertuan Agong by calling for a special Parliament session on March 2 to determine the next prime minister.

“The announcement to call for the special session challenges the rights and powers of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. It is known that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is scheduled to meet with the other Malay Kings to discuss the issue,” it said in a statement tonight.

6.03pm: Mahathir says he is ok with Muhyiddin becoming PM, if he commands the majority in Dewan Rakyat. 

On unity government, Mahathir says he will not accept Umno as a component but certain Bersatu members, such as Muhyiddin, are fine with accepting them en bloc.

5.34pm: Mahathir says that nobody has a distinct majority to form government. He says a special sitting of Dewan Rakyat will be held on March 2 to decide on a new prime minister and government. If a simple majority cannot be obtained, an election might be called, he adds.

Election Commission chairperson Azhar Azizan has also confirmed that a fresh election could cost the country between RM700 mil and RM800 mil, should snap polls be called. This clarifies a tweet by former Bersih chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan, who had tweeted that a snap election “could be between RM750 to RM800 bil.”

4.47pm: Bersih 2.0 calls for the new prime minister to apologise to the public, regardless of who that person is. 

“The new prime minister and government must set the tone for reconciliation, not just among the politicians and parties, but among the rakyat,” the electoral watchdog said in a statement.

Bersih also wants the interim prime minister to request the Agong to dissolve Parliament and “return to the rakyat to confer a fresh mandate to a new government of their choice” should no candidate present a clear majority.

“This is not an ideal time for a snap election given the fact that deep structural defects of malapportionment and gerrymandering from GE14 not only remains in our electoral boundaries but has gotten worse,” the organisation said. 

3.55pm: According to Datuk Kadir Jasin, former communications adviser to the prime minister, Mahathir appeared to be happy after his meeting with the palace. No further details were given.

3.48pm: Political think tank the Institute of Political Studies for Change (KPRU) is backing the idea of a minority government under PH as opposed to a non-partisan government mooted by interim PM Mahathir.

Its executive director Ooi Heng, in a statement, produced five points:

“One: With the support of 92 MPs from PH 2.0 (PKR, DAP, Amanah) for Anwar, he should be given priority to form a minority government.

“Second: With that priority, PH 2.0 can receive support from other parties, especially from Sabah and Sarawak to sign a confidence and supply deal.

“Third: Following the agreement above, the PH 2.0 minority government can bring a motion of confidence for Anwar to be the prime minister in Parliament. The agreement means the parties who support the leadership of PH 2.0 minority government under Anwar as prime minister will continue supporting him when the motion of confidence is being challenged.

“Fourth: The agreement also means that those who signed their support will also support the Supplies Bill involving the country’s finances that is tabled by the PH 2.0 minority government under Anwar.

“Fifth: Following the success of a minority government, PH 2.0 can move forward and invite other parties to form a mixed government.”

3.47pm: PKR president Anwar called PH’s ties with Bersatu as fluid. “We change by the day,” he says when asked if PH would accept Bersatu again per Malaysiakini. 

But Anwar stresses that he would not be approaching Bersatu chair Mahathir. “That doesn’t arise. We are Harapan. He has left Harapan,” Anwar says. 

3.28pm: Bersatu president Muhyiddin is scheduled to meet Mahathir at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in Putrajaya. Muhyiddin arrived at Perdana Putra at about 2.30pm.

3.18pm: Barisan Nasional has called for PH to prove it has the support of all assemblypersons in the Melaka state government, according to BFM News.

Umno state communications officer Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh has called for the assemblypersons to submit signed statutory declarations, failing which the Melaka state government will be viewed as a hung assembly.

3.12pm: Johor state representatives from Bersatu and Umno have teamed up to form the state government, per FMT.

Citing a statement by the Johor palace, FMT reports that the two parties are believed to have a simple majority in the state assembly. 

The statement also said 28 were in favour of the new coalition. Bersatu commands 11 seats, Umno has 12, MIC 2, and PAS has a seat. These combined command 28 out of 56 seats. 

2.45pm: Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow says he met with two elected state representatives from Bersatu at 1pm.

The Bersatu assemblypersons are Khaliq Mehtab Mohd Ishaq (Bertam) and Zolkifly Md Lazim (Teluk Bahang).

“In the meeting, the duo expressed their commitment to continue supporting the CM and the state Harapan government.

“It’s status quo for the two assemblypersons from Bersatu until further notice, pending developments in Putrajaya,” he said in the statement.

2.29pm: The Johor palace has declared that the majority of the members of the state assembly want a new coalition, according to a statement as per Malaysiakini.

Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar interviewed 54 of the 56 assemblypersons, including Bersatu president Muhyiddin.

According to the statement, two assemblypersons “tidak dapat hadir” (could not attend). These were Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub and Johor Bersatu chief Mazlan Bujang.

The statement says 28 supported the new coalition whereas 26 backed the PH government. The composition of this new coalition is not known at the time of writing.

1.55pm: Lim Kit Siang writes in his blog that “nobody rejects the idea of a national unity government,” claiming that the first task and immediate challenge for Malaysia is to restore the Pakatan Harapan government.

He adds that “although the idea of a national unity government is attractive and should be considered by all rational Malaysians, one thing is clear: No national unity government can be established on treachery, deceit, corruption, betrayal of the people’s mandate or by promoting national disunity.”

He calls the move to establish a national unity government by destroying the Pakatan Harapan government a “foolish and short-sighted” move.

He shares that the ideal way is to build on the Pakatan Harapan coalition and convince other political parties and entities to come together in the larger interest of the nation to build a New Malaysia, but based on the Pakatan Harapan mandate in GE14.

1.52pm: PH leaders are gathered for an impromptu meeting at Eastin Hotel in Petaling Jaya, according to Malaysiakini, having gathered earlier there for a meeting. Among the leaders present for the meeting are PKR president Anwar, secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, vice-president Chang Lih Kang, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and veteran leader Lim Kit Siang.

1.49pm: PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan has tweeted that PAS maintains its stand for Parliament to be dissolved, calling the news that all PAS and Umno MPs having signed a statutory declaration for Muhyiddin to be prime minister as false.

He adds that any official statements from PAS will only be issued by the president or the secretary-general in writing.

1.33pm: DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng says in a statement that Mahathir is no longer committed to fulfilling the promises outlined in the Pakatan Harapan manifesto, adding that this was conveyed to him during their meeting on Feb 25.

1.28pm: Ranau MP Jonathan Yasin denies quitting PKR, according to Malaysiakini, having been previously identified as a member of the group of rogue PKR MPs who had announced quitting the party.

“For the record, I am still in PKR. I also deny that I had consented to quit PKR,” he says, adding that he will explain himself to the party committee and bureau this evening.

1.27pm: Mahathir has accepted to return as Bersatu chairman after resigning from the post two days ago, reports Sinar Harian.

The Malay paper confirmed the matter with Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Marzuki Yahya. 

1.24pm: Malay rulers set to meet Agong tomorrow, according to The Star. However, Istana Negara has yet to confirm this meeting.

12:45pm: Mahathir has returned to Perdana Putra.

12:36pm: Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir will retain his post with the support of Pakatan Harapan, with the Kedah government now consisting of Bersatu and PH members.

“Everything remains the same except we are now known as a Bersatu-Pakatan Harapan government in Kedah. It’s business as usual for all sectors,” Mukhriz says.

12:19pm: Former deputy minister of international trade and industry Ong Kian Ming offers a list on why a government of individuals would not be acceptable to PH, as well as why it would be unworkable and unstable.

He notes that it would be “a betrayal of the voters’ mandate from GE14.” He also notes that the unity government would not be bound by the manifesto presented by PH, or be accountable to the voters of the 15th general elections.

Ong also states that the new government would likely include individuals labelled as traitors, which is unacceptable to PH as well as the voters. There would also be no clear understanding of what policy commitments the new government would have, nor would it have a stable majority to pass laws in Parliament.

He also points out that Malaysia is a parliamentary democracy and not a presidential system like Indonesia or the United States, and the lack of a clear opposition or government in Parliament would be against the spirit of parliamentary democracy.

“Grand coalition or ‘Unity’ governments have been formed in parliamentary systems before most notably in Germany in recent years but there has never been a government consisting of individuals from various parties which are not nominated by their own parties and does not necessarily have the support of their own parties to be part of cabinet. The reason why such a cabinet has never existed is because it is fundamentally unworkable and unstable,” says Ong.

12:18pm: Mahathir has left the Istana Negara after an hour-long audience with the Agong.

12.05pm: Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa has stepped forward to deny a report by The Star that Umno and PAS signed a statutory declaration (SD) in support of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as the candidate for prime minister. Annuar maintains that Umno’s stand is they want Parliament dissolved.

He also notes that statements regarding Umno’s stand can only be made by himself or the president, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

12pm: Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad of Amanah stresses that nominating Anwar as PM8 is “the right thing to do.” 

He tweeted: “It has it’s (sic) risks but how can we face the people if we do otherwise. Tun M has left PH when PPBM left PH. He wants a mandate for himself on a personal capacity, no ties, no commitments to anyone. Full and total authority. How can we agree to a dictatorship?”

11.25am: All PAS and Umno MPs have signed a statutory declaration (SD) in support of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as the candidate for prime minister, says PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

“When Dr Mahathir announced his resignation and refused to accept positions, Muafakat Nasional signed an SD for Muhyiddin.

“But if there isn’t a clear (Parliament) majority, we propose for Parliament to be dissolved,” he said as per The Star.

If what PAS says is true, then Muhyiddin would have 57 MPs (39 from Umno and 18 from PAS)  backing him. 

Assuming that Mahathir still has Bersatu’s support, including that of Muhyiddin’s, he will be left with 64 MPs (26 from Bersatu, 18 from Gabungan Parti Sarawak, 11 from Azmin and Co, and 9 from Warisan). 

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim still emerges as the man commanding the strongest support with 92 MPs from PH’s component parties PKR, DAP and Amanah. 

11.13am: Umno is scheduled to meet all 191 division chiefs at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur at 3pm.

11.06pm: Mahathir arrived at Istana Negara at 10.57am, entering the Palace through Gate 1. 

To recap, below is the full text of the speech by Mahathir yesterday over TV and various media:

1. Firstly, I wish to apologise to all Malaysians over the country’s rather chaotic political situation, which may have caused consternation among you.

1. Terlebih dahulu izinkan saya memohon maaf kepada semua rakyat Malaysia kerana keadaan politik negara yang agak kucar-kacir dan mungkin menimbulkan keresahan dikalangan tuan-tuan dan puan-puan.

2. As we all know, I had submitted my resignation letter as the 7th prime minister to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

2. Seperti umum ketahui, saya telah menyerah surat peletakan jawatan sebagai Perdana Menteri ke-7 kepada Ke bawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang diPertuan Agong.

3. Nevertheless, I was later called to meet the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and after a more than an hour-long discussion, the King consented to my resignation and later, decreed that I should become the interim prime minister.

3. Walaubagaimanapun, saya telah dipanggil mengadap Yang diPertuan Agong kemudiannya, dan setelah berbincang selama lebih satu jam, Tuanku telah bersetuju menerima surat peletakan jawatan saya dan setelah itu menitah saya supaya menjadi Perdana Menteri Interim.

4. There are many reasons for my resignation but suffice to say, I felt that I had support from all sides to the extent that I was unable to choose a side.

4. Ada banyak sebab mengapa saya meletak jawatan tetapi cukuplah saya katakan bahawa saya merasa kononnya mendapat sokongan dari semua pihak sehingga saya tidak dapat memilih pihak mana yang saya pilih.

5. In addition, there were also accusations that I never meant to let go of the position and was power-crazy/hungry.

5. Selain itu, terdapat juga tuduhan bahawa saya tidak berniat untuk melepas jawatan dan gila Kuasa.

6. As such, I resigned because I do not see power and position as the “be all and end all” to my goals. To me, power and position are a means to an end or a tool to achieve an objective. And this objective is, of course, for the betterment of the country.

6. Maka saya letak jawatan kerana saya tidak melihat kuasa dan jawatan itu sebagai “be all and end all” adalah matlamat saya. Bagi saya kuasa dan kedudukan itu adalah “a means to an end” ataupun satu alat untuk mencapai objektif. Dan objektif kita semua tentulah untuk kebaikan negara.

7. Due to that, I resigned because I saw that to politicians, both the victors and the losers, what was most important to them was which party would rule.

7. Kerana itu saya meletak jawatan kerana bagi saya ternampak bahawa bagi orang politik yang terpenting ialah parti mana yang memerintah, sama ada yang kalah atau yang menang.

8. Realistically, I had promised to resign to allow the Dewan Rakyat to decide who would be my replacement. If it is true that I still have support, then I will return. If not, I will accept whoever is chosen.

8. Sebenarnya saya telah janji akan letak jawatan untuk memberi peluang kepada Dewan Rakyat menentukan siapa yang akan mengganti saya. Jika benarlah saya masih disokong saya akan kembali. Jika tidak saya akan terima siapa sahaja yang dipilih.

9. So, the opportunity to change the leadership is there. I, however, feel that since I have the support of both sides, it is not yet time for me to resign.

9. Jadi peluang untuk menukar kepimpinan memang ada. Hanya saya berpendapat oleh kerana saya disokong oleh kedua-dua pihak, masa untuk saya letak jawatan belum tiba.

10. I ask to be given time. But my party, Bersatu, decided to leave Pakatan Harapan. There are also those from other component parties who are set to leave. With this, the Pakatan Harapan government would collapse.

10. Saya minta diberi masa. Tetapi parti saya BERSATU memutuskan untuk keluar dari Pakatan Harapan. Ada juga ahli dari parti komponen lain yang akan keluar. Dengan perlakuan ini Kerajaan Pakatan Harapan akan gugur.

11. The effect of Bersatu supporting Umno and PAS is that the parties which lost the election would go on to form the government. This government would be dominated by Umno, by virtue of it being the biggest party.

11. Kesannya jika BERSATU sokong PAS dan UMNO maka parti-parti yang kalahlah yang akan diri Kerajaan. Kerajaan ini akan didominasi oleh UMNO sebagai parti yang terbesar.

12. I can accept Umno members who leave the party and join another party. But Umno would be joining this unity government as Umno itself. This I could not accept. So I had to resign.

12. Saya sanggup terima ahli UMNO yang keluar UMNO dan menyertai parti lain. Tetapi UMNO akan sertai Kerajaan campuran ini sebagai Parti UMNO. Ini tidak dapat diterima oleh saya. Maka terpaksalah saya letak jawatan.

13. As a human being, I am not averse to making mistakes. I seek forgiveness if my act of resigning is wrong.

13. Sebagai manusia biasa saya tidak sunyi dari melaku kesilapan. Saya pohon maaf jika peletakan jawatan oleh saya adalah salah.

14. Yang di-Pertuan Agong decreed that I should be appointed as the interim prime minister. I know that what I am doing now is being opposed and rejected by many; some may be in support. I am not looking to become popular. I am only doing something which to me would be best for the country.

14. Yang diPertuan Agong bertitah supaya saya dilantik sebagai Perdana Menteri sementara. Saya sedar apa juga yang dilakukan oleh saya sekarang akan ditentang dan ditolak oleh ramai, tetapi mungkin ada yang menyokong. Saya tidak cari untuk disukai ramai. Saya hanyalah membuat sesuatu saya anggap baik bagi negara.

15. Politicians and political parties place too much emphasis on politics until they forget that the country is facing economic and health issues.

15. Politik, orang politik dan parti politik terlalu utama politik sehingga lupa negara menghadapi masalah ekonomi dan kesihatan yang mengancam negara.

16. In my opinion, right or wrong, politics and political parties have to be cast aside for now. If I am permitted, I will try to establish an administration which does not favour any party. The only priority would be the interests of the country.

16. Saya berpendapat betul atau tidak, politik dan parti politik perlu diketepikan buat masa sekarang. Jika dibenar saya akan cuba adakan pemerintahan yang tidak memihak kepada mana-mana parti. Hanya kepentingan negara sahaja yang akan diutamakan.

17. This is what I will try to do if given the opportunity. I pray and ask Allah SWT for guidance in my endeavour. Thank you.

17. Jika diizin inilah yang akan saya cuba. Saya berdoa dan saya pohon kepada Allah SWT saya diberi petunjuk dalam usaha ini. Sekian, terima kasih.

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