THE Perikatan Nasional (PN) government is expected to return to power as its pick for prime minister currently has the most number of votes, a source within the coalition said.

“As of now, Ismail Sabri Yaakob has 100 MPs with him while Anwar Ibrahim, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Mohd Shafie Apdal only have 92, 15 and 13 respectively,” said the source.

The Umno vice president’s support appears to come from PN, which has 50 MPs comprising Bersatu, PAS and STAR; followed by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (18), the Umno faction led by Ismail himself (23), MCA (2), MIC (1), PBS (1), PBRS (1) and four independents.

As for Anwar, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman, his support is from DAP (42), PKR (35), Amanah (11), Parti Sarawak Bersatu (2), Upko (1) and one independent. 

Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh is believed be backed by the 15 Umno MPs who withdrew their support from former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin last week, while Shafie’s support comes from Warisan (8), Pejuang (4) and one independent.

The information was relayed to The Malaysian Insight after the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s meeting with party leaders this afternoon. 

The Malaysian Insight has managed to confirm the numbers with one opposition party leader and is attempting to verify the information with other leaders.

This is despite claims by Warisan Youth chief Mohd Azis Jamman on Twitter earlier that Anwar has 105 MPs backing him.

Earlier today, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had met all the party leaders together in an effort to appoint a new prime minister following Muhyiddin Yassin’s resignation yesterday.

The meeting, which lasted one-and-a-half hours at Istana Negara, was attended by PN secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, PKR, Amanah and Pejuang presidents Anwar, Mohamad Sabu and Mukhriz Mahathir respectively and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

After two weeks of uncertainty, the 74-year-old Muhyiddin resigned yesterday after his final attempt of an olive branch to the opposition on Friday failed, when all opposition parties rejected his offer of reforms in exchange for support.

The former Umno politician became the country’s eighth prime minister in March last year after Dr Mahathir Mohamad resigned as prime minister following the “Sheraton move”.

Muhyiddin had led Bersatu MPs out of PH and with support from Umno, PAS and a breakaway faction from PKR, toppled the PH government. – August 17, 2021.