KUALA LUMPUR – Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders have completed their meeting at Menara Dato Onn, and have decided to remain an opposition coalition.
The race to form a new government, after GE15’s results yielded a hung Parliament, is open again. Coalition leader movements are also fluid, with Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders currently at the Petaling Jaya office of PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is expected to be heading to Istana Negara later this afternoon.
The Vibes keeps you updated with live updates . – The Vibes, November 22, 2022
3.48pm – PH chairman Anwar and PN chairman Muhyiddin have been summoned to meet the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at 4.30pm.
3.44pm – A group of Anwar supporters are chanting “reformasi” some 100m away from the Istana Negara gate but have been told to not block the road.
3.40pm – Chief Secretary Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali enters Istana Negara via Gate 2.
3.33pm – More MPs are entering Anwar’s office ahead of the 4pm meeting, including Sekijang MP Zaliha Mustafa, Sg Buloh MP Datuk R. Ramanan and Johor Baru MP Akmal Nasir.
When asked to comment on Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s statement that BN wants to remain as opposition, Ramanan said: “We leave it to the wisdom of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to appoint Anwar as the prime minister.”
3.25pm – BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir says none of its coalition MPs are supporting rival Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister.
He said the coalition has informed the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of this decision.
“The BN supreme council is open to discussions with the relevant parties to ensure a government can be formed, for the sake of the country and the well-being of the people.”
He also called for a “cooling-off period” during this political imbroglio.
3.20pm – PKR’s Subang MP Wong Chen says he received an invitation to attend a meeting at Anwar’s office, scheduled to start at 4pm. However, he stops short of elaborating on what it will be about.
3.00pm – Other PH leaders at Anwar’s Bukit Gasing office include Amanah’s Mohamad, PKR’s Rafizi Ramli and Adam Adli, and DAP’s Loke.
2.56pm – Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman arrives at PH chairman Anwar’s office here in Petaling Jaya. When asked if Anwar will be sworn in this evening, the Muda president merely said: “Doakan (pray for it).”
2.48pm – MCA president Wee says in a press conference at party headquarters that MCA is prepared to perform its role as the opposition, “to provide checks and balances”.
2.20pm – MIC president Tan Sri S.A. Vigneswaran echoes what most BN leaders have said, adding that the coalition will be in the opposition, but for “the time being”.
2.15pm – MIC’s Saravanan said “everyone agreed to be in opposition” and “not supporting anyone”.
“We choose to not join anyone.”
2.01pm – Sabah Umno’s Bung Moktar told the press that all 30 BN MPs decided to remain neutral and not support any side.
“We are ready to be in the opposition.”
It is also learnt that the meeting in the BN headquarters today has concluded as most coalition leaders have left the compound.
2pm – Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob tweets that BN is not supporting either PH or PN to form a government, and will remain an opposition party for now.
1.50pm – Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal expresses his support for a PH-BN coalition government, minutes from the 2pm deadline.
1.15pm – DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu are spotted at Anwar’s office in Petaling Jaya.
1.21pm – Police escort vehicles and helicopters are spotted in the vicinity of Anwar’s residence in Sg Long, Kajang.
1.11pm – Ben is approached by police, telling him that the group needs to disperse. They move away from Menara Dato Onn but remain in the vicinity of the WTC.
1.10pm – Jelebu MP Jalaluddin says BN has made a decision on who to support en bloc and will announce it soon.
He added that the meeting earlier had gone on smoothly, and all 30 BN MPs acted in solidarity together.
12.58pm – Almost 60 people in black T-shirts walk towards Menara Dato Onn, led by someone identifying as Ben Ikram.
He told reporters that the group consists of grassroots members here to show their support for Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
1.00pm – It is learnt that the meeting held upstairs has concluded.
12.45pm – A group of more than 20 youths dressed in black are seen waiting outside Seri Pacific Hotel.
Earlier, the same group stood outside Menara Dato Onn, but were instructed to leave by police.
— Hishammuddin Hussein ?? (@HishammuddinH2O) November 22, 2022
12.44pm – Sembrong MP Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein tweets that he will forever be with Umno, whatever the decision is.
12.40pm – It is learnt that Pakatan Harapan chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is making his way to Seri Pacific Hotel, according to media reports.
However, PKR representative Zainol Abidin Mohamed, who is stationed at Menara Dato Onn, said he has no news of Anwar’s whereabouts.
Zainol is part of a PKR entourage waiting at Menara Dato Onn for BN’s decision on who to support en bloc.
12.15pm – MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong tells reporters to wait for an “official statement” from the BN secretary-general’s office on their decision.
He was swarmed by reporters as he exited Menara Dato Onn but mainly kept mum when repeatedly pressed by the media on the outcome of the BN meeting today.
12.06pm – Chong briefly tells press that “a decision has been made, they are meeting MPs now”.
12.00pm – MCA secretary-general Chong leaves Menara Dato Onn. He tells reporters to wait for the BN president or secretary-general to issue a statement.
At 12pm, MCA's Datuk Chong Sin Woon leaves Menara Dato'Onn.
— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) November 22, 2022
He tells reporters to wait for the BN president or sec-gen to issue a statement. pic.twitter.com/fk9D1Ntcqf
11.06am – Umno’s Simpang Renggam MP Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad arrives.
11.03am – Umno’s Lenggong MP Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah arrives.
11.00am – At least, 10 BN leaders have entered through the building’s main doors. Likely more will be arriving via the basement entrance.
Police presence here is noticeably higher than it usually is.
10.58am – MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan tells reporters he has a “pilihan hati” (personal choice) for a prime minister candidate but does not disclose a name.
Melaka BN chief Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh arrives.
Umno’s Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos tells reporters he is confident that BN-PH will be a reality.
10.55am – Umno’s Lipis MP Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad avoids answering questions by the media on statutory declarations.
10.30am – So far, it is understood that MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon, MCA’s Datuk Mah Hang Soon, and Umno’s Titiwangsa MP Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani have arrived.
So far, it is understood that Datuk Chong Sin Woon, Datuk Mah Hang Soon, and Datuk Johari Ghani have arrived.
— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) November 22, 2022
Here, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin is also seen arriving.
When asked who ??'s 10th prime minister will be, he answers: “Me!” pic.twitter.com/7fbA9Db7Xq
10.28am – Umno’s Kinabatangan MP Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin arrives in high spirits.
When asked who will be Malaysia’s10th prime minister, he quips: “Me!”
