KUALA LUMPUR – As the nation wakes up to another day without a prime minister, Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs have been summoned to Istana Negara for an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
However, coalition leaders are seeking a postponement of their scheduled audience with the Agong this morning.
This is after a fresh round of meetings among BN leaders and 30 of its MPs late last night, during which coalition leaders reiterated their stance of being neutral and not supporting either Pakatan Harapan (PH) or Perikatan Nasional (PN).
6pm – GPS leader Fadillah says the coalition leaders were advised by the Agong to consider joining a unity government.
“The Agong has called on GPS to support the proposed unity government, and that is the best way forward for the next five years.
“We will bring the Agong’s message to GPS chairman Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg and the other GPS leaders,” Fadillah told reporters in Kuching today.
5.08pm – Ismail Sabri, Mohamad, and Saravanan have left St Regis Hotel via Jalan Travers. It is believed the meeting between BN and PN leadership here has concluded.
4.57pm – The letter to Istana Negara expressing BN lawmakers’ support for Anwar was indeed sent by Umno president Zahid, said MIC president Tan S. A. Vigneswaran.
“He (Zahid) admitted to sending the letter after 10 BN MPs retracted their support for Muhyiddin and BN made the decision to remain neutral,” he was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini this afternoon.
Similarly, MCA secretary-general Chong Sin Woon also confirmed the authenticity of the letter as well in a statement to the media.
4.53pm – PH chairman Anwar leaves his office in Petaling Jaya to head home to Sg Long.
4.43pm – MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan has joined Umno’s Mohamad Hasan and Ismail Sabri at St Regis Hotel, where they are believed to be meeting with the PN leadership. However, details remain scarce at the moment.
It is also believed that MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah deputy president Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup will attend the meeting as members of BN's negotiations committee.
Later tonight, Umno is scheduled to hold a Supreme Council meeting to further discuss en bloc support, followed by a Barisan Nasional supreme council meeting.
3.46pm – Over at Anwar’s office in Bukit Gasing, former foreign minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman is seen leaving a meeting there with Rafizi and Fahmi.
During the GE15 campaign, Anifah had surprisingly emerged to throw his support behind Anwar and PH.
3.30pm – BN deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob are also at St Regis Hotel, where PN is having its meeting.
3.09pm – It is learnt that PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and other PN leaders are meeting at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
2.15pm – The Agong decrees that BN’s 30 MPs must be part of a unity government, according to Malaysiakini which quoted coalition chairman Zahid.
The king conveyed this to Zahid and other top BN leaders during their audience at the Istana Negara this morning.
Currently, BN’s official stand is to remain an opposition coalition and not side with either PH or PN.
Zahid also told Malaysiakini that this position “is not Tuanku’s order”.
2.05pm – The full statement by Istana Negara on the king’s special meeting with other Malay rulers tomorrow has been released. It states that the gathering is meant to enable the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to reach a decision “that is for the peace and benefit of the country and people”.
1.58pm – Deputy PKR Youth chief Adam Adli Abd Halim has entered Anwar’s office compound. He said that discussions for today include the racial sentiments that have been prevalent.
“There are justice-level matters that will be observed, especially the racial sentiment that has become a tool to achieve political goals,” he told the press.
Adam also stressed the importance of harmony, and how milking racial sentiments can threaten national security.
“I hope we keep our harmony, do not use racial sentiments, and do not jeopardise our unity for politics.
“The general election campaigns have ended. It would be bad for us if we keep using race (issues) even after the campaign period.”
1.17pm – The Yang di-Pertuan Agong will hold a special meeting with other Malay Rulers at Istana Negara tomorrow. The meeting is said to be a special briefing on the forming of a new government.
1.10pm – PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli has arrived at the Bukit Gasing office of PKR president and PH chairman Anwar. Another leader seen here is Lembah Pantai MP and PH information chief Fahmi Fadzil.
1.09pm – Umno has called a Supreme Council meeting at 8pm tonight, at Menara Dato’ Onn. It will be chaired by Zahid. A notice on the meeting was issued by party secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.
12.30pm – At the moment, it looks like the action is moving away from Istana Negara, with Zahid said to be heading back to Umno’s headquarters. PN’s Muhyiddin is at his residence in Bukit Damansara while PH’s Anwar is heading to his Petaling Jaya office.
11.56am – Nanta Linggi and his convoy have left the palace.
11.50am – About 50 members of the public, some wearing Semboyan Malaysia Consumers Association shirts, have started chanting “Allahuakbar” (God is most great). Spotted among them was group chair Yusof Azmi.
11.48am – Sin Chew Daily reported that GPS leader Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof reiterated the Sarawak-based coalition’s support for Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister.
Fadillah added that GPS leaders have submitted statutory declarations backing Muhyiddin.
11.40am – When asked by Sin Chew Daily where he was going when leaving his house in Sg Long, Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim quipped that he is going to “tengok wayang” (watch a movie).
11.23am – Zahid, along with Mohamad and Zambry Abdul Kadir left the palace.
11.07am – A convoy escorting Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) secretary-general Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi and other coalition leaders entered the Istana compound.
10.54am – Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun arrives at Gate 2.
10.52am – Dewan Negara President Tan Sri Rais Yatim’s car spotted at Gate 2.
10.45am – Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is believed to be in a white vehicle entering Gate 2 of Istana Negara. BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir and Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan arrived earlier.
– The Vibes, November 23, 2022
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