GPS holding cards close to their chest, says Harapan did not reach out

 

Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairperson Abang Johari Openg today declined to divulge who his coalition nominated for prime minister.

Speaking to reporters after chairing a GPS supreme council meeting in Kuching this afternoon, he said only the Agong may name the prime minister.

"I cannot announce the name before the (Yang di-Pertuan) Agong," he said, according to a report by The Malay Mail.

In the same report, Abang Johari also mentioned that the Pakatan Harapan coalition did not reach out to GPS.

According to a separate report by Borneo Post, Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, a GPS MP for Santubong, claimed his coalition agreed in principle to back Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Meanwhile, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail did not confirm the matter but opined this was no more an issue to the current political situation.

“Most important is that all of us had sent the letter so let’s wait for Tuanku’s announcement,” he said when contacted by Malaysiakini.

On Feb 25, 2020, GPS initially backed Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the prime minister only to change their minds several days later and backed Muhyiddin Yassin.

Istana Negara has instructed all 220 MPs to state their preference for prime minister in writing by 4pm today.

Muhyiddin resigned on Monday after losing the support of 15 Umno MPs.

So far, the race is believed to be mainly between Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri (Bera MP) and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim (Port Dickson MP).

MPs from Umno and Bersatu have claimed their party will back Ismail Sabri while Pakatan Harapan and their allies are claiming Anwar has their 105 votes.

According to Istana Negara, after the Yang di-Pertuan Agong appoints a new prime minister, the prime minister will still have to prove his majority, as soon as possible, in the Dewan Rakyat. - Mkini