Despite rallying for Muhyiddin, PN registration still a sticking point for BN

BN, during a meeting of its MPs today, was united in their commitment to defend the Perikatan Nasional government but the issue of formalising the coalition remains a sticking point.

Umno advisory council chairperson Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (above) said there were many objections when the issue was raised during the meeting this morning, which was intended to prepare for the Dewan Rakyat sitting tomorrow.

“It is still being discussed but it looks like many are not agreeable as (they are thinking of the) BN symbol and are used to BN," the Gua Musang MP said after the meeting.

Umno's Sembrong MP Hishammuddin Hussein also confirmed that the issue of PN's registration was brought up during a meeting.

However, Hishammuddin, who is the foreign minister, said the meeting didn't arrive at a decision.

“The issue was touched on by the president (Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) but there is no decision,” he told Malaysiakini.

However, all the BN MPs agreed they will do their role in supporting Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's (above) motion in the Dewan Rakyat tomorrow to replace the speaker and deputy speaker with PN's own choice.

The vote is crucial as it is seen as a proxy vote on whether Muhyiddin enjoys majority support in the Dewan Rakyat.

The Pakatan Harapan government collapsed in late February after Muhyiddin pulled Bersatu out and formed a new coalition with PKR defectors, BN, PAS, GPS, PBS and STAR.

Muhyiddin was sworn in as the new prime minister after his mentor-turned-rival Dr Mahathir Mohamad refused to lead the new Perikatan Nasional coalition as he adamantly refused to work with Umno.

Muhyiddin had been working to formalise PN so that component parties can contest under a common platform in the next general election.

However, some within Umno believed that the Umno and PAS alliance is strong enough to win in the next general election without having to make any concessions to Bersatu.

All three parties rely on a Malay base and have extensive overlapping claims over electoral constituencies that they want to contest in the general election. - Mkini