Day 5 of the political upheaval

Bringing you updates on the developing situation following the collapse of the 20-month-old Pakatan Harapan government.

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Ex-minister apologises for political deadlock in wake of Covid-19 pandemic

8.10am: Former Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad apologises to Malaysians for the political impasse in the country.

He urges those who caused the political crisis to stop punishing the rakyat with their greed and bad behaviour.

"The people are waiting for a stimulus package and solicitude of the government to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic, but this is what we gifted as resolution," laments the Amanah strategic director.

"The political impasse in determining the eighth prime minister invites various reaction and involves less productive discourse and that may be disastrous," he says in posting on social media.

He calls for an end to the state of uncertainty.

"It is not appropriate that the country is only steered by only an interim or caretaker prime minister in a prolonged manner," he says.

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Interim PM does not exist in nation’s constitution, says former AG

7.50am: Former attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali questions the legitimacy of interim prime minister.

"The interim prime minister does not exist in the Federal Constitution," he says.

"Under the current situation, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong can exercise his discretion by dissolving the Dewan (Rakyat) if His Majesty opines no parliamentarian commands the majority to be appointed as the prime minister."

On Feb 24, Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah consented to appoint Dr Mahathir Mohamad as interim prime minister after accepting the latter’s resignation earlier in the day.

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Day 5 of the political upheaval

7am: It's Day 5 of the political crisis that has gripped the country following a failed coup attempt on Sunday.

Interim prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad wants to form a government that "sets aside" political parties, while Pakatan Harapan wants PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim in charge.

BN and PAS, meanwhile, are calling for Parliament to be dissolved and new elections held.

But with no one commanding a majority in the House, it is now up to the Yang diPertuan Agong to decide the fate of the country after having interviewed all lawmakers.

It's unclear if the sovereign will announce a decision today, but in the meantime expect political players to be busy trying to break the impasse.

[More to follow] - Mkini