BARISAN Nasional (BN) lawmakers are meeting Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin to hear his case for a unity government, according to party sources. 

First to arrive was Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob, followed by Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan. 

Ismail said he was there for a meeting but declined to give details. 

MCA president Wee Ka Siong distanced himself from the meeting and posted a picture of himself at his party office on his Facebook page. 

“I am in the MCA office on party matters,” he posted, rebutting reports that he is attending the meeting.

The meeting comes after the BN top two met the Agong earlier today.

BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Agong decreed that his coalition be part of a unity government. 

Malaysiakini reported that Zahid and other leaders received the decree from the king when they met him early this morning.

“Tuanku’s decree was to form a unity government,” Zahid was quoted as saying by the news portal.

On BN not backing any other political coalition to form the government, Zahid said it was not part of the king’s order. 

Zahid said the matter would be deliberated by Umno and BN’s supreme councils later. 

Yesterday, Muhyiddin, who also met with the king, rejected the advances of forming a unity government with Pakatan Harapan (PH).

Anwar, who similarly met with the Agong, said besides wanting a unity government, His Majesty also wanted the formation of a strong and formidable government that is inclusive of all races and religions.

“This allows the government to focus on solving the problems of the people and resuscitating the economy,” he said.

In Saturday’s general election, PH won 76 seats, its member Sarawak DAP collected five, and ally Muda won one, for a total of 82. 

PN and PAS won 51 and 22 seats, respectively, for a combined total of 73.

BN only won 30 seats. – November 23, 2022.