Gabungan Parti Sarawak mum after Umno pullout

Desmond Davidson Desmond Davidson Updated 2 years ago · Published on 3 Aug 2021 10:02PM · 4 Comments

GPS secretary-general Alexander Nanta Linggi is currently unavailable, as are his colleagues in the Sarawak ruling coalition, as political developments unfold on the Peninsula. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, August 3, 2021.

LEADERS of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) are keeping mum on the latest national political development but supporters of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government have said the government of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has “not fallen as is being widely assumed”.

The leaders of the four-party GPS coalition have not responded to phone calls or text messages seeking comments on Umno’s withdrawal of support for Muhyiddin.

GPS secretary-general Alexander Nanta Linggi and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president James Masing were not contactable this evening.

An aide to Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president Tiong King Sing said the Bintulu MP would not make any comments until after GPS had done so.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had earlier this evening said his party has presented evidence to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah its MPs have withdrawn support for Muhyiddin.

Zahid then said Muhyiddin’s position as prime minister has lost its legitimacy and he should resign.

However, a group known to be pro-Azmin Ali, minister in charge of economy, international trade and industry, said the PN government has not fallen.

“Technically, the PN is a minority government now,” they said in a statement.

“The government has become a minority government and (Muhyiddin) is still the prime minister until someone else can bring 111 MPs to the king,” they added.

The group said, constitutionally, the king has no powers to sack a sitting prime minister.

“The king can only call an MP who enjoys the confidence of the House to have an audience with him.

“However, we have yet to see anyone declaring that he or she has the support of a simple majority of 111 MPs.

“The prime minister needs to find the numbers for a simple majority of 111. It is unclear what the numbers are right now, as we do not as yet have a clear indication of how many Umno MPs have withdrawn support for Muhyiddin, as there are now denials from those apparently listed,” the group said. – August 3, 2021.

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Comments

  • Just step aside lah. It's over

    Posted 2 years ago by Joe nuts · Reply

  • Still fiddling while Malaysia is being destroyed. GPS JUST STEP OUT OF PN.

    Posted 2 years ago by Thomas Samuel · Reply

  • Where in the Constitution is a minority government permitted? Once the PM ceases to command the confidence of the majority of members of the Dewan Rakyat he must resign unless the Agong consents to a dissolution of Parliament.

    Posted 2 years ago by Gerard Lourdesamy · Reply

  • For the sake of the country and its people GPS should support PH. The country need a strong majority or we will be back to square one. The ball is in GPS court. If they want the economy to improve and to have a stable government, GPS must consider supporting PH.

    Posted 2 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply