Malaysia’s party meetings fuel talk of change in govt
The Straits Times, Kuala Lumpur :
Leaders from Malaysia’s ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition held several meetings on Sunday (Feb 23), fuelling talk that a new government would be formed soon comprising breakaway parties from PH and opposition parties Umno and Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS).
Leaders and MPs from Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia met at their headquarters in Petaling Jaya, Selangor this morning for around six hours.
Tun Dr Mahathir and party president Muhyiddin Yassin were seen at the building on Sunday, as well as youth wing chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, and other party MPs.
About a dozen ministers and MPs aligned to Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s deputy president and Economic Affairs Minister, were also said to have held a meeting at a hotel nearby.
The four-party PH coalition comprises multiracial PKR, the Chinese-led Democratic Action Party (DAP), Dr Mahathir’s Malay-based PPBM, and Parti Amanah Negara, a moderate Islamic party.
A party insider told The Straits Times that the plan is for those aligned to Mr Azmin to leave PKR, which has 50 MPs – the largest number of MPs in Parliament. The insider said PPBM, which has 26 MPs, may leave PH.
A lawmaker aligned to PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, who is meant to take over from Dr Mahathir as prime minister, dismissed the speculation, saying: “I don’t think they have enough numbers.”
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A new coalition will need at least 112 MPs – a majority of the 222 seats in Parliament – to form a government.
Speculation is rife that PPBM and Mr Azmin’s team from PKR will make up the numbers by joining forces with the Umno-led opposition coalition Barisan Nasional (BN), and PAS.
The leadership of Umno and PAS – the country’s biggest Malay-Muslim parties – were attending a retreat over the weekend at the hillside resort of Janda Baik, just outside Kuala Lumpur, where the government change was believed to have been discussed.
Umno, which formed a political pact with PAS last year, is said to be holding a supreme council meeting later on Sunday. They have also openly backed Dr Mahathir to stay on, amidst calls from Mr Anwar’s supporters for the 94-year-old premier to make way for his designated successor Mr Anwar.
It is said that the new government, if successfully formed, will comprise 41 MPs from BN, 26 from PPBM, 18 from PAS, nine from PH ally Parti Warisan Sabah, 19 from opposition Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), and 10 from PKR, totalling 123 MPs.
Leaders of this new coalition were granted an audience with Malaysia’s King on Sunday evening to discuss the transition. Among those said to have attended the meeting with Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin were Mr Azmin, PPBM president Muhyiddin Yassin, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, reported The Star.
Also seen at the palace were Warisan president and Sabah chief minister Shafie Apdal, and PBB president and Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg.
Mr Anwar’s political secretary, Mr Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak, said Mr Anwar is set for an audience with the Sultan on Monday, although he told the Malay Mail the meeting had been “scheduled a long time ago” and that it was meant to provide normal political updates.
Supporters of Mr Anwar on Sunday evening attended a prayer session held at his Bukit Segambut residence.
If the plan succeeds, Mr Anwar will not be able to command sufficient support to take over as prime minister. His PKR will be left with 40 MPs, while the other remaining PH parties DAP, with 42 MPs and Amanah, which has 11 MPs, will no longer be part of the government.
Leaders from Malaysia’s ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition held several meetings on Sunday (Feb 23), fuelling talk that a new government would be formed soon comprising breakaway parties from PH and opposition parties Umno and Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS).
Leaders and MPs from Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia met at their headquarters in Petaling Jaya, Selangor this morning for around six hours.
Tun Dr Mahathir and party president Muhyiddin Yassin were seen at the building on Sunday, as well as youth wing chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, and other party MPs.
About a dozen ministers and MPs aligned to Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s deputy president and Economic Affairs Minister, were also said to have held a meeting at a hotel nearby.
The four-party PH coalition comprises multiracial PKR, the Chinese-led Democratic Action Party (DAP), Dr Mahathir’s Malay-based PPBM, and Parti Amanah Negara, a moderate Islamic party.
A party insider told The Straits Times that the plan is for those aligned to Mr Azmin to leave PKR, which has 50 MPs – the largest number of MPs in Parliament. The insider said PPBM, which has 26 MPs, may leave PH.
A lawmaker aligned to PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, who is meant to take over from Dr Mahathir as prime minister, dismissed the speculation, saying: “I don’t think they have enough numbers.”
Get exclusive insights of Asia from our network of correspondents Keep up with the latest in the region with the ST Asian Insider newsletter, delivered to your inbox every weekday By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.
A new coalition will need at least 112 MPs – a majority of the 222 seats in Parliament – to form a government.
Speculation is rife that PPBM and Mr Azmin’s team from PKR will make up the numbers by joining forces with the Umno-led opposition coalition Barisan Nasional (BN), and PAS.
The leadership of Umno and PAS – the country’s biggest Malay-Muslim parties – were attending a retreat over the weekend at the hillside resort of Janda Baik, just outside Kuala Lumpur, where the government change was believed to have been discussed.
Umno, which formed a political pact with PAS last year, is said to be holding a supreme council meeting later on Sunday. They have also openly backed Dr Mahathir to stay on, amidst calls from Mr Anwar’s supporters for the 94-year-old premier to make way for his designated successor Mr Anwar.
It is said that the new government, if successfully formed, will comprise 41 MPs from BN, 26 from PPBM, 18 from PAS, nine from PH ally Parti Warisan Sabah, 19 from opposition Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), and 10 from PKR, totalling 123 MPs.
Leaders of this new coalition were granted an audience with Malaysia’s King on Sunday evening to discuss the transition. Among those said to have attended the meeting with Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin were Mr Azmin, PPBM president Muhyiddin Yassin, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, reported The Star.
Also seen at the palace were Warisan president and Sabah chief minister Shafie Apdal, and PBB president and Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg.
Mr Anwar’s political secretary, Mr Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak, said Mr Anwar is set for an audience with the Sultan on Monday, although he told the Malay Mail the meeting had been “scheduled a long time ago” and that it was meant to provide normal political updates.
Supporters of Mr Anwar on Sunday evening attended a prayer session held at his Bukit Segambut residence.
If the plan succeeds, Mr Anwar will not be able to command sufficient support to take over as prime minister. His PKR will be left with 40 MPs, while the other remaining PH parties DAP, with 42 MPs and Amanah, which has 11 MPs, will no longer be part of the government.
