UMNO has not discussed who should be the next prime minister, following the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government today, said the party’s chief adviser Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. 

The Gua Musang MP said it would depend on who the Yang di-Pertuan Agong decides as the one who enjoys majority support in Parliament. 

“The Agong will decide,” he said today when met at the party headquarters.

Earlier today Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced his resignation as the prime minister and Bersatu chairman. 

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin also announced the party was leaving PH as agreed in the party’s internal meeting yesterday.

At the same time, PKR sacked its deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali and vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin, who were both sitting ministers.

The duo then announced their departure from the party with nine other MPs, including two ministers, one deputy minister, to form an independent parliamentary bloc. 

All these resulted in the collapse of the PH government on the federal level. 

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, the agreed successor to Dr Mahathir in a PH deal, had an audience with the King this afternoon. 

Dr Mahathir also met the King, who accepted his resignation but named him the interim prime minister until a new appointment is made. 

At the same time, PAS said together with Umno and its other allies, have enough numbers to form the government.

Tengku Razaleigh also said the latest political situation was a positive development.

“As for now, there are no ministers, and the government has fallen. It is good to change the government,” he said. “Our stock market fell badly and our ringgit is in decline.”

Kinabatangan MP Bung Mokhtar Radin, also from Umno, said Barisan Nasional chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi wants every coalition leader to remain united. 

“Zahid told us to stay united and we agreed,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Umno’s Pasir Salak MP Tajudin Abdul Rahman denied accusations he had not affirmed a statutory declaration to support Dr Mahathir as prime minister.  

“It is only a rumour. I signed it,” he said. 

Tengku Razaleigh meanwhile said he did not sign the SD because of a hand injury. – February 24, 2020.