PARLIAMENT will be summoned on Monday to find a leader who has the majority support to become prime minister, said Dr Mahahtir Mohamad.

The interim prime minister said this is being done as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has not been able to find any MP who commands a majority in the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat.

“And because there is no distinct majority, he (the King) says the right forum is the Dewan Rakyat.

“So, Parliament will be called on the second of next month… whoever has majority support in Parliament will become prime minister.

“However, if the Dewan Rakyat fails to find a person with a majority, we will have to go for a snap election,” he said.

A simple majority in the Dewan Rakyat is 112.

Pakatan Harapan now has 92 MPs – 42 from DAP, PKR has 39, and Amanah has 11. Dr Mahathir’s Bersatu has 26 MPs.

Barisan Nasional and PAS have 61 MPs between them, comprising Umno (39), PAS (18), MCA (two), MIC (one) and PBRS  (one).

Azmin Ali’s  faction of ex-PKR members has 11 parliamentarians who are now independents.

Sarawak ruling coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak has 18 MPs, while PH’s former allies in Sabah, Parti Warisan Sabah, has nine.

Smaller East Malaysian parties make up the rest of the 222  MPs – Parti Bersatu Sarawak (one), UPKO (one), Gabungan Bersatu Sabah (two) and one independent.

Dr Mahathir said he will not be prime minister if he is not chosen.

“So, whoever wins (prime minister post) I will accept them.”

Yesterday, Dr Mahathir said he will form a non-partisan government that puts the country’s interests first, if he is permitted. 

Dr Mahathir said whoever is chosen as prime minister can form a cabinet of his choosing.

“He can choose any member without ties to any party… (they will be in cabinet) as individuals and not looked upon as representatives of their party,” he said.

“It will be a unity government, because all parties will have a representative in the cabinet, but others can also be co-opted to become ministers. That will be a unity government.” – February 27, 2020.