Embattled BN now finds itself in the kingmaker spot

 

After a thrashing at the polls yesterday, BN has found itself in a kingmaker position.

And cracks are emerging within the party over whom they should support to form the next government.

Earlier today, Perikatan Nasional leader Muhyiddin Yassin received an overt endorsement from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).

Collectively, PN and GPS have 95 seats - 16 short of the 111 needed for a majority.

Muhyiddin himself has claimed that he has the endorsement of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) as well as "several other MPs", evidently a signal that he was still short of an outright majority without BN.

Sources close to PN and Umno’s top brass have told Malaysiakini that BN MPs loyal to Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob are keen to back Muhyiddin as well.

PN chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin

It is unsure how many Umno MPs are siding with Ismail Sabri.

However, sources are also suggesting that another group loyal to Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi are not keen on working with Muhyiddin again, following their bitter past experience.

Unlike DAP and Amanah, Umno's party rules do not compel rogue MPs who go against party decisions to "resign" - thus, triggering laws meant to prevent defections.

Hence, it is possible for Umno MPs to go against the party position without worrying about losing their seats.

Meetings cancelled

Adding to the intrigue was the lack of clarity coming from the party’s top brass.

At around 11pm last night, when it was clear that BN would lose the election, Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan summoned the party's supreme council for a meeting at 3pm today.

That meeting was cancelled at the eleventh hour. Some party leaders told Malaysiakini that there were no explanations given.

Malaysiakini can confirm that Umno's top five leaders - Zahid, deputy president Mohamad Hassan and three vice presidents Ismail Sabri, Mohd Khaled Nordin and Mahdzir Khalid - had a meeting this morning.

This was followed by the party's political bureau meeting which was chaired by Zahid. The political bureau is subservient to the party's supreme council.

Also cancelled was BN's supreme council meeting, originally scheduled for 8pm tonight.

Who will Zahid back?

Sources close to Ismail Sabri alleged that Zahid was inclined to persuade his colleagues that BN should back Harapan instead.

Should BN throw its weight behind Harapan, they will collectively have 112 MPs and thus have the majority to form a government.

However, Zahid is caught in a bind because he had repeatedly pledged that Umno under his watch would adopt a "No Bersatu, No Anwar and No DAP" policy.

Harapan chairperson Anwar Ibrahim

Zahid's minders did not respond to Malaysiakini's request for comments.

The source also confirmed that MPs and party leaders close to Ismail Sabri are now pressuring Zahid to resign in order for a new temporary leadership to take over.

Asked if they would accept Mohamad Hasan - the Umno deputy president - to lead them, the source said this was unlikely because the former had once pledged to resign if BN failed to win the election. - Mkini