Bringing you updates on the developing situation following the collapse of the 20-month-old Pakatan Harapan government.
Read Malaysiakini's previous live updates on Feb 23 (Sunday), Feb 24 (Monday) and Feb 25 (Tuesday) and Feb 26 (Wednesday), Feb 27 (Thursday) and Feb 28 (Friday).
'We will come back tomorrow' - Muhyiddin and allies leave Palace
10.50am - Istana Negara - Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin has left Istana Negara barely 40 minutes after arriving.
PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, who is accompanying him says "We will come back tomorrow".
Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and GPS chief whip Fadillah Yusof are also seen leaving.
Earlier this morning, the leaders had gathered at Muhyiddin home. Also present were Star's Keningau MP Jeffrey Kittingan and PBS' Pensiangan MP Arthur Joseph Kurup.
The group were planning to inform the palace that they have a majority to form a new government but Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is now on a collision course with Muhyiddin, pre-empted the move.
Mahathir has struck deal with Pakatan Harapan to support him. Bersatu sources have indicated that more will declare support for Mahathir soon.
Before entering the palace, Muhyiddin had confirmed his intention to form the Perikatan Nasional coalition.
"Our purpose is to try our best to save us from what we are facing in the country right now.
"Our intentions are sincere. We ask all Malaysians to pray that our efforts will receive support and prayers for its success," he says.
Group suggests East Malaysian leader as PM
10.45am - A group of civil society leaders has suggested that East Malaysia be given the chance to lead the new government.
They say this because peninsular leaders appear to have continuously fought over their own interest.
"It is about time we Malaysians give a chance for East Malaysian leaders who have shown religious and racial tolerance since the formation of Malaysia, and who have set examples of unity in diversity to lead the nation out of the current impasse.
"If Malaysia wants a unity government, let's start from the East. When we signed the Malaysian agreement, we hoped for a just society and fair society and caring leaders who put nation before self. It is now confirmed that the peninsular party leaders are only thinking about themselves.
"It is about time an East Malaysian leader is given the opportunity to lead the country as prime minister," they say.
Among the signatory of the statement include Lim Teck Ghee, Tajuddin Rasdi, Peter John Jaban, Faridah Mohd Fuad Stephens and Ambiga Sreenevasan.
Sarawak DAP is willing to make concessions with GPS
10.15am - Sarawak DAP is willing to make concessions with GPS in the upcoming state election, in the name of national interest.
"In the name of national interest, anything can," Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chien Jen tells Malaysiakini.
Asked if they're willing to work with GPS, he replies that they are open to working with anyone other than Umno and PAS.
Chong says the country is at a crossroads now and GPS must choose between working with "racists" and "religious extremists" in Umno and PAS, or with Pakatan Harapan.
Politicians arrive at the palace to meet the King
10.10am - Istana Negara - Politicians have started to arrive at the palace to meet the King.
Among those spotted thus far are Bersatu's Muhyiddin Yassin and Azmin Ali, Umno's Annuar Musa, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and GPS chief whip Fadillah Yusof.
'I never signed' says Syed Saddiq on SD
10am - Bersatu Youth chief Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman says he and several MPs did not sign any statutory declaration to support Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin to become the next prime minister.
"I never signed," he tells the press on Whatsapp.
Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad had yesterday met with Bersatu MPs to make his case against working with Umno. However, after the meeting, Bersatu secretary-general announced that the party would support Muhyiddin, who is prepared to work with Umno, as prime minister.
He mentioned that the meeting was attended by 36 Bersatu MPs, including PKR defectors, but did not specifically say they had individually endorsed Muhyiddin.
Dr M declares he has the number to form new gov't
9.30am - Interim Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad declares that he now has the numbers to form the new government.
This is after he met with Pakatan Harapan leaders this morning.
"I am now confident that I have the numbers needed to garner majority support in the Dewan Rakyat.
"I am therefore prepared to stand as a prospective candidate for prime minister.
"This decision will be conveyed to the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong," he says in a statement.
Pakatan Harapan, in a separate statement, confirms that the coalition will support Mahathir. [Read the full story]
Bersatu's Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman breaks ranks
9.15am - Bersatu's Muar MP Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman breaks ranks amid party president Muhyiddin Yassin's effort to form a new government with Umno.
"I became a politician at a time when my country was viewed with disdain by the world and embarrassed by corruption.
"I believed that Malaysians have the right to a better government. One that is free from corruption, respected and with dignity.
"I would like to stress one thing - I will never work with the corrupt. Far from it, I won't form a government with them," Syed Saddiq says in a Twitter post. [Read the full story]
Ini bukan lagi soal parti atau majoriti.
Ini soal identiti & integriti.
Saya faham pendirian saya tidak akan disenangi oleh segelintir ahli politik. Tetapi ahli politik datang dan pergi. Rakyat Malaysia adalah tuan sebenar negara ini.
Biar mati bermaruah, jangan hidup dijajah.
5,027 people are talking about this
Political party leaders summoned to Istana Negara
8am - Istana Negara - Political party leaders are expected to meet the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong at 10.30am.
The ruler had on Tuesday and Wednesday interviewed MPs on their preference for prime minister but his majesty is not satisfied that any MP commands a majority.
To recap, BN and PAS MPs had earlier told the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong that they wanted the Dewan Rakyat dissolved while Pakatan Harapan leaders decided to nominate Port Dickson MP Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister after their former leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad declined to restore the previous Harapan government.
GPS, Warisan and Bersatu were believed to have nominated Mahathir, who is Bersatu chairperson, as prime minister.
However, the position of the parties has changed yet again in a matter of days.
As of last night, BN, PAS and Bersatu are now backing Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister. Harapan's position remains unchanged for now and who GPS and Warisan will support is still up in the air.
The switch to Muhyiddin is due to Mahathir being adamant that he would not work with Umno.
Following party lines, this means Muhyiddin should have the support of 96 MPs while PKR president Anwar Ibrahim has 93, or at least in theory. The position of 33 more MPs is unclear.
It is unclear if the ruler can establish who has the most support by meeting the party chiefs today as not all MPs appear to stick to the party lines.
Bersatu MPs, for example, appear to be split between Muhyiddin and Mahathir.
Anwar has indicated that he hopes disgruntled MPs with side with Harapan, claiming that the coalition has the numbers to form the government.
This is a continuing effort to establish who has majority support to become the prime minister after a series of interviews with MPs his majesty
Day 7 of Sheraton Move
7.30am - It's now Day 7 of the Sheraton Move, a coup attempt to replace the Pakatan Harapan government with a new coalition called "Perikatan Nasional".
The coup plotters failed to install the new government but the Harapan government collapsed nonetheless.
After a brief attempt by Harapan leaders to restore the previous government, efforts to resume the coup appears to be gaining the upper hand.
As of last night, the frontrunners for prime minister now appear to be Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin and his PKR counterpart Anwar Ibrahim.
On the surface, Muhyiddin is leading with the support of 96 MPs from Umno, MCA, MIC, PAS and Bersatu which now has 36 lawmakers after 10 MPs aligned to Azmin Ali joined the party.
Anwar, meanwhile, has the support of 92 MPs from Pakatan Harapan.
The two main players that have yet to declare a side is GPS and Warisan, and both sides will be aggressively courted by Muhyiddin and Anwar's factions.
It is unclear if interim Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad still wants to pursue his unity government agenda. - Mkini
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