Why has UMNO discriminated against PN? Aren't many ex UMNO ppl in PN ?
Ahead of rulers meet, Umno agrees to unity government not led by Muhyiddin
The decision has yet to be endorsed by the wider BN Umno leads, as well as the coalition’s 30 MPs.
Shannon Teoh and
Zunaira Saieed
UPDATED
38 MINS AGO
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KUALA LUMPUR - Umno’s top leadership agreed Thursday to the decree of Malaysia’s King to form a unity government, bringing Pakatan Harapan (PH) chief Anwar Ibrahim one step closer to the premiership he has waited for nearly 25 years.
This comes ahead of a Council of Rulers scheduled for 10.30am, where
Sultan Abdullah Ahmad will confer with the nation’s nine state monarchs.
However, the decision after a four-hour meeting of the Umno supreme council has yet to be endorsed by the wider Barisan Nasional (BN) the party leads, as well as the coalition’s 30 MPs.
“The Supreme Council unanimously decided to uphold the King’s decree for BN to support and participate in a unity government not led by Perikatan Nasional (PN) to ensure a stable and prosperous administration can be formed,” said a statement by secretary-general Ahmad Maslan.
PN chief Muhyiddin Yassin, after a joint audience with PH counterpart Datuk Seri Anwar at the Palace on Tuesday, had refused to participate in a joint administration with his fierce rivals in PH,
claiming he had the backing of 115 out of Parliament’s 222 members.
Council member Puad Zarkashi explained that “many reporters asked PH or PN. The answer is simple. PN rejected the unity government.”
Umno’s supreme council also further gave its full backing for president Zahid Hamidi to continue leading BN, after
he had come under fire from allies for pledging BN’s 30 MPs to Mr Anwar on Tuesday despite the coalition deciding to remain neutral.
The Straits Times has sighted a letter signed off by leaders of all three BN allies calling on Zahid to relinquish the chairmanship, and for disciplinary action to be taken if the former deputy premier refuses.
The BN supreme council is expected to meet Thursday morning.
Malaysia has yet to form a new government five days after
a general election threw up its first ever hung Parliament.
A crushing defeat for the once dominant BN left both Mr Anwar and Tan Sri Muhyiddin as the front runners to become prime minister with their parties leading blocs of 82 and 79 MPs respectively.