GPS has 18 MPs and was a key partner in the Perikatan Nasional-led government, which fell on Monday when Muhyiddin Yassin tendered his resignation as the prime minister after losing majority support.

“We have agreed in principle to support Ismail Sabri Yaakob to become prime minister, but our SDs (statutory declarations) will only be despatched after our GPS meeting this afternoon,” said Santubong MP Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jafaar, a member of the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Supreme Council. PBB is the main component in GPS.

“Ismail is a veteran and experienced leader well-liked by many and has tremendous experience in dealing with Covid-19 for the past 17 months,” the former entrepreneur development and cooperatives minister told FMT.

He said while there had been many comments regarding the country’s management of the Covid-19 crisis, they were all opinions from outsiders “without real knowledge of the many conflicting demands and wishes from inside”.

“Ismail, like the rest of the PN Cabinet, has seen this and appreciates (the difficulties),” he said.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun yesterday asked all MPs to provide SDs to declare their support for a prime minister candidate, with the SDs to be submitted by 4pm today.

BN MPs last night unanimously named Ismail as their candidate for the post of prime minister.

This was confirmed by Umno’s Pasir Salak MP, Tajuddin Abdul Rahman.

Asked if Ismail had obtained the majority, Tajuddin said “we have crossed the (required) number of 111”.

“This is with the support of PAS and Bersatu.”