Flurry of party meetings to discuss the way forward

 

PETALING JAYA: Following the resignation of now-caretaker prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, parties and politicians have scrambled to discuss the way forward with the nation’s top job now up for grabs.

Opposition party leaders including those from East Malaysia were holding meetings both online and at PKR headquarters to discuss the possibility of a “unity government”.

Coalition insiders said the parties must be well represented in the new government in order to manage the health, economic and social crises.

“Everyone in the meeting is hoping that there will be a unanimous show of support for the new prime minister so the new government has a solid majority to run the country,” the insiders said, without disclosing who the candidates could be.

Those at PKR headquarters included leaders of Pakatan Harapan partners PKR, DAP and Amanah.

Meetings of PAS, Umno and Bersatu leaders also took place in the wake of Muhyiddin’s announcement.

Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhli Shaari and Tumpat MP Che Abdullah Mat Nawi both confirmed PAS had convened a special meeting on the heels of the recent developments.

Bersatu Supreme Council member Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof said two emergency meetings, involving Supreme Council members and MPs, were held at Yayasan Selangor and the party’s headquarters respectively.

Umno’s political bureau also held a meeting this afternoon at the Putra World Trade Centre.

The political manoeuvring didn’t stop at impromptu meetings, with a number of MPs telling FMT that they were already receiving calls from parties looking to attract support for their candidate.

“So far, I’ve got calls asking me to back Ismail Sabri (Umno), Shafie Apdal (Warisan) and Anwar Ibrahim (Pakatan Harapan),” an MP said.

There had also been a concerted push to put forward Warisan president and former Sabah chief minister Shafie Apdal as a possible candidate for prime minister. - FMT