We won, but EC delaying results, says Mahathir

Dr Mahathir Mohamad says he cannot seek an audience with the king without an official announcement that his coalition has the simple majority.

Dr Mahathir Mohamad speaks to reporters tonight. (Reuters pic)

PETALING JAYA: Dr Mahathir Mohamad has accused the Election Commission of delaying announcements of official results, saying his coalition has already won the 112 seats needed to form the federal government.

“It is late now. We should know by now who is winning and losing. There’s an attempt to delay the results by not signing (official forms),” he told reporters at a hotel in Petaling Jaya where he met top leaders of the four-party coalition.

“EC is not doing its duty. It’s holding back on the results. They have the duty to sign the official declaration of the results of each constituency.”

Mahathir said he was confident of taking over Putrajaya as well as at least six states, including four from Barisan Nasional (BN).

“We have practically achieved the figure and the figure for BN is very much less. There’s no way they can catch up.

“Unofficially we have captured Penang, Selangor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Johor and Kedah. Practically the whole of the peninsula is won by PH,” he said.

But he said without official announcements of winners by the EC, it would be difficult for PH to get an audience with the Agong to form the government.

“I would like to see the king… He appoints the prime minister. But if they do not announce the results, I don’t have the majority to see the king,” he said.

Early parliamentary results put BN and PH neck-and-neck at about 50 seats each in the race to win 112 seats, for a simple majority in the 222-member Dewan Rakyat.

State PH leaders in Kedah, Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Johor say they believe they have won power in their states, based on early returns.

In Penang, DAP has won all its 19 state seats and seven parliamentary seats and are expected to form the state government for a third term with its PH partners.

There have also been reports of major casualties on the BN’s side, including MCA president Liow Tiong Lai, MIC president Dr S Subramaniam, Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong and Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed.

Mahathir said he was informed that results were delayed in Sabah, where Warisan led by Shafie Apdal has made major gains in a state seen as BN’s “fixed deposit”.

“Results not being signed, there were instances of blackout. I believe Shafie Apdal… he has won, but they (EC) refused to sign the form,” he said.

Asked if he feared that Najib Razak could resort to declaring emergency to foil a PH takeover, Mahathir said it would be difficult to do so as “Malaysians are not violent people”.

“I don’t think they will allow this kind of things to happen. It’s quite obvious that the people want Najib out,” he said.

“People must know what is their duty and do what is right according to the constitution and the laws of this country.” - FMT