[UPDATED] Dewan Speaker calls for MPs’ statutory declarations for PM candidates, new govt

KUALA LUMPUR – Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun has called for parties to submit directly to Istana Negara by 2pm tomorrow the names of MPs who will support them in a coalition with the required numbers to form a new federal government.

The parties must also name an MP in their coalition that has support to be the 10th prime minister, which must be affirmed by each of the coalition’s MPs via a statutory declaration.

Azhar said he had written to party heads and secretaries-general on the documents required.

He said he wrote to parties that “hold a substantial number of seats” which are to present the name of independent MPs, if any, supporting them in a coalition of at least 112 seats for the purpose of forming a federal government.

The party chiefs and secretaries-general must also submit the names of MPs supporting their coalition using SDs.

The individual MPs when stating support for a prime minister candidate must also do so “clearly and plainly” in their respective SD, Azhar said in a press statement.

This follows Istana Negara’s statement earlier today calling on coalitions and parties to submit their political compositions, name of prime minister candidate and supporting MPs to the Dewan Rakyat speaker for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s consideration by 2pm tomorrow.

The results of the 15th general election held yesterday show that no single coalition has enough seats to form a new federal government alone.

Pakatan Harapan has the most seats, at 82 (including Muda), Perikatan Nasional has 73 and Barisan Nasional has 30.

By Westminster convention, in the event of a hung Parliament, the party with the most seats is invited to form the federal government. – The Vibes, November 20, 2022