[LIVE] I’m still PM candidate, Anwar assures nation

KUALA LUMPUR – Hours before the 2pm deadline set by Istana Negara, PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail is spotted entering the Seri Pacific Hotel here shortly after 9am.

It was rumoured that there is a meeting between rivals Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional leaders as the race to Putrajaya remains open.

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Hours before the 2pm deadline set by Istana Negara, PKR secretary-general @saifnasution is spotted entering the Seri Pacific Hotel shortly after 9am.

It was rumoured that there is a meeting between rivals PH and BN leaders as the race to Putrajaya remains open. pic.twitter.com/uHtKObuO7X

— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) November 21, 2022

While sources declined to tell Malaysiakini of the meeting’s agenda, some downplayed its significance, saying it’s “just a regular meeting”. 

A number of police special action unit officers, usually assigned as the prime minister’s security detail, are also seen in the compound of the hotel.

Approximately 10 members of the press have gathered here since 9am. – The Vibes, November 21, 2022

2.45pm – “We stressed the importance of good governance, inclusiveness, and unity. I want to make that very clear,” he said in a press conference at Seri Pacific Hotel here today.

2.41pm – “No condition attached except the focus on the economy. No unreasonable conditions,” he said when asked about MP support.

“I’m still PM candidate.”

2.40pm – “My response to that is that there’s no DAP government, but a PH government,” said Anwar, in response to Hishammuddin’s statement.

2.35pm – Anwar addresses the media in a highly anticipated press conference.

1.51pm – Perikatan Nasional announces that it has submitted the statutory declarations from MPs supporting PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to be appointed as prime minister by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

In a statement, it said that the number of signed declarations were more than 112, which is the minimum required for the appointment of the prime minister under Article 43 of the federal constitution.

1.15pm – Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman arrives.

12.54pm – A press conference will be held by PH after the leaders conclude their meeting.

12.20pm – Amanah’s Kuala Selangor MP Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad arrives.

12.10pm – DAP’s Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim enters the hotel ballroom.

12.00pm – Umno’s Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan clarifies in a statement that four BN leaders did not attend the meeting today, including two who are sick. It is learnt that Simpang Renggam MP Datuk Hasni Mohammad did not attend.

11.48am – DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke arrives.

11.46am – Also seen at Seri Pacific Hotel are PKR lawmakers Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, and Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil. Zahid and Ismail Sabri have left the hotel.

11.45am – It is learned that other BN MPs were in an earlier meeting with Anwar. They are Zahid and his deputy Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Ismail Sabri, Khaled, Bung Moktar, and MIC deputy president Saravanan.

11.44am – It was clarified that 27 BN MPs, including Zahid, were at the BN MPs’ press conference. Only Sembrong MP Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein is missing from the event.

11.30am – Selangor Menteri Besar and Gombak MP Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari arrives.

11.25am – Zahid says BN seeks a time extension to enable negotiation with other coalitions before submitting SDs to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

11.22am – Zahid stresses that any decision by BN will be made by the coalition’s highest governing body, of which he is the chairman.

Any statements issued by any BN MP indicating they support any other coalition would be considered a breach of discipline.

He said they will decide which bloc to support based on feedback from their negotiations committee.

He added that BN MPs will send their SDs to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun today but asked for “flexible timing” compared with the 2pm deadline set today.

11.19am – Zahid says there are no official or unofficial negotiations made with any parties. He added that any statements by any party or coalition that BN is supporting anyone are invalid.

11.16am – “As agreed by the BN Supreme Council, anyone who signs any document like SDs to name anyone as prime minister is invalid as this violates the earlier ‘Aku Jani’ documents signed by candidates,” said Zahid.

11.15am – Zahid reveals that there are 26 BN MPs present, while two MPs are unwell. The two who are unwell are Jelebu MP Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias and Kuala Pilah MP Datuk Adnan Abu Hassan.

11.09am – BN leaders have invited the media to wait outside the hotel for a press conference.

At 10.50am, @AdamAdli arrives at the Seri Pacific Hotel. pic.twitter.com/NXIFrBBdB9

— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) November 21, 2022

10.53am – PKR’s Sg Buloh MP Datuk R. Ramanan and Hang Tuah Jaya MP Adam Adli arrive at the hotel. 

10.30am – PH chairman and Tambun MP Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrives at Seri Pacific Hotel.

At 10.30am, @anwaribrahim arrives at the Seri Pacific Hotel. pic.twitter.com/TYSqAejnIg

— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) November 21, 2022

PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli is also present at Seri Pacific.

10.20am – MIC deputy president and Tapah MP Datuk Seri M. Saravanan has arrived. He said the BN leaders are at the hotel to decide who they will support as prime minister.

10.03am – MCA president and Ayer Hitam MP Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong has also arrived.

At 10.08am, @weekasiongmp arrives. pic.twitter.com/8iJ93lPBij

— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) November 21, 2022

10.02am – Speaking to reporters, Ismail Sabri said any decision made by BN must be done through the coalition’s highest governing body while Zahid promises to have a press conference later today.

10.01am – Caretaker prime minister and Bera MP Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri arrives at the hotel in a heavily guarded convoy.

At 10am, @IsmailSabri60 arrives in a heavily guarded convoy. pic.twitter.com/r66aW32VIe

— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) November 21, 2022

10.00am – Arriving are Umno’s Lenggong MP Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman and Titiwangsa MP Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani. Following soon after is Umno president and Bagan Datuk MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Also seen are @drshamsulanuar and @AzalinaOthmanS, as well as @joharighani. pic.twitter.com/ifVR7UtWOm

— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) November 21, 2022

9.50am – Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and Tg Piai MP Datuk Seri Wee Jeck Seng arrive.

At 9.30am, Umno sec-gen @ahmadmaslan arrives at the hotel.

Immediately after that, Amanah leaders @MSabu_Official, @MyDSA_official, @adlyzahari_n17 also arrive, and rushed into the hotel's Pacific Ballroom. pic.twitter.com/B3R5jDjyyc

— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) November 21, 2022

9.30am – Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, PH’s Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and deputy president Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub as well as Melaka PH chairman Adly Zahari arrive at the hotel.

Ahmad confirmed with reporters that BN MPs are meeting today.

At 9.45am, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and former deputy Dewan Rakyat speaker Datuk Ramli Md Nor arrive. pic.twitter.com/AByOYsJx9W

— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) November 21, 2022

Also, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Cameron Highlands MP Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor arrived earlier.

Additional reporting by Danial Dzulkifly