PERIKATAN Nasional’s decision to reject the king’s suggestion to form a unity government with Pakatan Harapan could be construed as an act of rebellion, analysts said.

Ilham Centre executive director Hisomuddin Bakar said PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin should have respected the king’s request for a quick resolution to an impasse.

At a press conference after meeting the king yesterday, Muhyiddin said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had asked his coalition to  work with Pakatan Harapan.

“We have discussed this. We will not work with PH,” Muhyiddin said.

Muhyiddin said he had submitted to the king 115 statutory declarations from MPs supporting his claim to the prime minister’s office.

Following the failure of yesterday’s meeting to reach a decision on which party would form the government, the king has summoned all 30 Barisan Nasional (BN) lawmakers to the palace today to decide which prime ministerial candidate has majority support.

Hisomuddin said PN’s coalition partner PAS had at one time proposed a unity government between PN and BN to end a deadlock back in 2020 but would not accept the idea now.

“This is a form of “sembah derhaka” (act of rebellion) against the king who wishes for a unity government so that the country can move forward.

“If they can accuse others of rebelling against the palace, they are now rebelling against the king,” he said.

The analyst said PN’s rejection of the king’s offer will send the wrong message to the people.

“It shows that politicians are only out for power. They seek power and not the wellbeing of the people,” he added.

Yesterday, the king met with PH chairman Anwar Ibrahim and Muhyiddin to after none was able to muster the numbers to form the federal government.

Back in 2020, the palace had summoned BN and PH MPs for interviews to pick the prime minister.

Muhyiddin being realistic

Iman Research Programme director Badrul Hisyam Ismail said Muhyiddin had rejected a unity government because he knew PN would not be able to work with PH in the long term.

“Muhyiddin was being realistic. He knows his MPs cannot work with PH therefore why waste time when in the end they will disagree over national policies?

“I do not think it was an act of rebellion. But of course it was a waste of opportunity. For PN, maybe there was no turning back.”

Badrul also questioned the need for the king to interview the 30 BN lawmakers.

“To call the MPs again for an interview does not make sense. Instead the king could have just summoned their leader to state his position. Statutory declarations are obsolete now that the anti-party hopping law has come into efffect and all decisions must be made en bloc.

In the general election, PH won 76 seats while its coalition members, Sarawak DAP and Muda respectively snagged five and one each, for a total of 82.

PN and PAS won 51 and 22 seats, respectively, to make 73.

BN could only muster 30 seats. Gabungan Parti Sarawak claimed 23, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (6), Warisan (3), Parti Bangsa Malaysia (1) and Independents (2). – November 22, 2022.