A HUNG Parliament is a possible outcome of the 14th general election, should a coalition fail to capture 112 parliamentary seats, which would result in a unity government.

Such a government can only be led by a leading member of Parliament acceptable to at least two coalitions.

“Negotiations will have to start until one commands the confidence of 112,” said Surendra Ananth, Malaysian Bar constitutional law committee co-chairman.

A hung Parliament comes to pass when neither major party bloc has a majority of seats in the Dewan Rakyat.

Neither the ruling party nor the opposition would get enough support to form a government, leading to a unity government.

The executive branch must be led by a politician acceptable to both sides of the aisle of the Dewan Rakyat.  

Penang Institute fellow Wong Chin Huat said negotiations were key.

“The outcome would really depend on how the seats are split. It could well be that Warisan and East Malaysia’s Barisan Nasional parties will go independent too,” he said.

Wong said he believed that Warisan and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak’s dominant party, may join Pakatan Harapan, should they receive the third and fourth most seats.

“If Umno is weak, why stay loyal? Go independent, you can strike a better deal with either side. If BN loses Peninsular Malaysia with less than 80 seats won, that is quite likely to happen.

“That means they would count on some 30-plus seats from East Malaysia to stay in the majority. It would be stupid for PBB to stay Umno’s runner,” Wong said. – May 9, 2018.