Day 3 at the palace: It’s all about who has the numbers
FMT brings live coverage of the happenings at Istana Negara.
KUALA LUMPUR: It was a day filled with anticipation and numbers as the nation waits to see who among the key leaders have the majority to form Malaysia’s new government.
Interim Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was at the palace today, said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong could not find any leader with a distinct majority and as such, the next prime minister might have to be decided when a special session of the Dewan Rakyat convenes on March 2.
Here are blow by blow accounts of events as they unfolded today.
5:50pm: A group calling themselves “Gerakan Tuntut Malaysia” held a demonstration urging the people to accept the outcome from the Conference of Rulers which will be held tomorrow. Its leader Azlan Abu Bakar said the public wanted fresh elections.
12:40pm: Umno denies a report claiming that PAS and Umno MPs had backed PPBM president Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister during their royal audience on Tuesday. In a statement, Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa said the two parties want the Agong to dissolve the Parliament for fresh polls.
12.00pm: Dr Mahathir leaves palace after an hour-long audience with the Agong.
11.15am: There have been conflicting claims on who has the majority, with Anwar Ibrahim’s supporters saying the PKR leader is set to be sworn-in as PM. Pakatan Harapan top leaders are meeting at 1pm today.
11.10am: Dr Mahathir may not be sworn in as he is not wearing the Baju Melayu, which is a required palace protocol during a swearing-in ceremony.
11.00am: Dr Mahathir Mohamad, wearing a suit and a songkok, enters the palace grounds, ahead of his audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
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It is not certain if he would be sworn-in, with conflicting claims on who has the majority support to head a new government.