Zahid summoned to Istana Negara

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 23 Feb 2020 7:02PM · 0 Comments

Vehicles carrying VIPs with police escorts at Istana Negara today. It is believed several political leaders have been summoned to the palace for an audience with the king today. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Afif Abd Halim, February 23, 2020.

KEY leaders of several political parties were seen at Istana Negara this afternoon, adding more buzz over a possible change in government.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi made his way to the palace after chairing a hastily arranged Umno Supreme Council meeting and was given a police escort.

His aide confirmed Zahid had been summoned to the palace but could not give additional details.

The leaders are gathered at the palace to have an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Apart from Zahid, the other leaders said to be at Istana Negara are Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali and PAS  president Abdul Hadi Awang.

Warisan president and Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal and PBB president and Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg are also present.

The gathering of leaders at Istana Negara comes after a slew of meetings earlier today over the future of the Pakatan Harapan government.

Leaders of Bersatu and Umno, who had met earlier today, were tightlipped about what was discussed.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamid cut short his party’s Supreme Council meeting to head to the palace and was given a police escort. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, February 23, 2020.

A gathering of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) leaders was also passed off as a routine gathering ahead of the March 9 parliament meeting.

However, a meeting of PKR leaders aligned to party deputy president Azmin Ali is still ongoing, with rumours swirling that a group of MPs were about to march out of the reform party.

The meetings were held against the backdrop of a tense PH presidential council meeting last Friday, in which Dr Mahathir was pressured to set a date for the transition of power.

The meeting ended with the council deciding to allow Dr Mahathir to choose when to retire but events there appeared to have damaged ties among the four coalition partners.

Apart from Bersatu, other members in PH are PKR, DAP and Amanah.

Currently, PKR has 50 MPs, DAP (42), Bersatu (26), and Amanah (11). Its associate, Warisan in Sabah, has nine MPs.

On the opposition side, Umno has 39 MPs, PAS (18) and GPS (18).

A simple majority of 112 out of the 222-seat Parliament is needed to form the government. – February 23, 2020.

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