The Yang di-Pertuan Agong can consider the formation of a minority government if none of the lawmakers possesses a clear majority in the Dewan Rakyat, according to Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu.
He was responding to Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s statement that 11 MPs from the party have withdrawn their support for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and their letters have been submitted to the palace.
Based on the numbers, Faizal (above) said the Perikatan Nasional government, which had been clinging to power with a tenuous majority, has fallen.
However, he said this gives birth to a new political quagmire as in whom would these Umno MPs throw their weight behind.
“If their support for a prime minister candidate is divided, then there is a possibility of nobody having a clear majority.
“In this context, there is a possibility of a hung parliament... there are other avenues to form a new government, one of them is a minority government,” he was quoted as saying by Sinar Harian.
On the same note, the former Perak menteri besar said a minority government cannot be equated with an interim government.
“If Muhyiddin still has the highest number of lawmakers (supporting him) but is short of a majority, the ensuing minority government does not necessarily have to be addressed as a PN government.
“All of this depends on the wisdom of the Agong in considering the best approach to form a new government if no quarter is able to command a majority,” he added.
Faizal also expressed shock and disappointment with Umno’s latest move, which comes amid a surge in Covid-19 cases in Malaysia.
“Umno’s decision has placed the nation in a situation of unrest, especially when the people are suffering.
“I am of the view that Umno should be more responsible and not trigger political instability at this juncture,” he added.
In a related development, Umno supreme council member Puad Zarkashi posted on Facebook that Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun must have informed Muhyiddin that he has lost the majority.
“Hope that he (Muhyiddin) tenders his resignation when he has his audience with the Agong before the cabinet meeting tomorrow. Don’t ask for the dissolution of Parliament instead,” he said.
Meanwhile, news portal FMT, quoting sources, reported that Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Deputy Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob have been proposed as Muhyiddin’s successor.
Tengku Razaleigh, 84, has been an MP since 1974 whereas Ismail Sabri is also Umno vice-president. - FMT
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