POLITICAL party leaders led by opposition chief Anwar Ibrahim are at Istana Negara for an audience with the king for discussions on the appointment of a new prime minister.

Also at Istana Negara are DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Pejuang president Mukhriz Mahathir and PAS vice-president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

The Malaysian Insight understands that Bersatu is represented by its secretary-general Hamzah Zainuddin, while Gabungan Parti Sarawak chairman Abang Johari Openg is joining the meeting online.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah summoned the leaders to find out who the parties support to be the next prime minister following Muhyiddin Yassin’s resignation yesterday.

Earlier today Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun had also instructed lawmakers to sign statutory declarations to indicate their support for a new prime minister and inform Istana Negara by tomorrow.

Muhyiddin lasted 532 days as prime minister, which he assumed after joining forces with Umno, PAS, Gabungan Parti Sarawak and, crucially, a group of rebel PKR MPs to oust the Pakatan Harapan government in February last year. 

His short-lived administration, the briefest in Malaysia’s history, was centred on fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, while manoeuvring to keep his slim majority intact. 

The 74-year-old former Umno politician became the country’s eighth prime minister in March last year, after Dr Mahathir Mohamad resigned as prime minister following the “Sheraton move”. 

Muhyiddin had led Bersatu MPs out of PH and with support from Umno, PAS, and a breakaway faction from PKR, toppled the PH government.

Currently, the Perikatan Nasional coalition counts 100 MPs among its ranks. – August 17, 2021.