In the joint statement by 13 state chiefs, they called on all members to abide by the party leadership and the guidelines stated in the party constitution.

This comes amid growing political instability now that the Perikatan Nasional coalition has fallen, after several ministers announced that the Cabinet had resigned.

This morning Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had a 30-minute audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at the Palace, where he is believed to have tendered his resignation.

Earlier this month, Umno withdrew its support for the PN-led  government.

However, at a press conference last week, deputy prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob stood firm in his support for PN, citing the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s “wishes and decree”.

In open defiance of his party, Ismail, who is also an Umno vice-president, accused those trying to topple the government ahead of a vote of confidence scheduled in September as trying to “foil the King’s wishes and decree”.

Ismail claimed that in total, 31 BN MPs were supporting the government, though not all were present at the press conference.

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