Malaysian King tells BN to join unity government; seeks Council of Rulers to resolve election crisis

MALAYSIA’S king has decreed that former ruling bloc Barisan Nasional (BN) must be part of a so-called unity government, BN chief Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told Malaysiakini after an audience with the monarch on Wednesday (Nov 23). 

Two other coalition leaders were told the same when they were granted the royal audience, Zahid added.

The 30 lawmakers from BN have two choices: form the government with opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim of the multi-ethnic Pakatan Harapan or ex-PM Muhyiddin Yassin who helms the pro-Malay, Islamist bloc called Perikatan Nasional.

The king also called a special meeting of his fellow hereditary sultans on Thursday to discuss who should be prime minister as an unprecedented post-election crisis entered its fourth day.

The king is due to pick a new prime minister after the leading contenders – opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and former premier Muhyiddin Yassin – failed to secure enough support for a majority following a Saturday election that produced an unprecedented hung Parliament.

The uncertainty over the election prolongs political instability in the South-east Asian country, which has had three prime ministers in as many years, and risks delaying policy decisions needed to foster economic recovery.

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The Council of Rulers, which groups the heads of all nine royal houses, will meet on Thursday to discuss the formation of a new government, the palace said in a statement.

“The purpose of the meeting of the Council of Malay Rulers is for the King to get the thoughts of the Malay rulers so that he can make a decision for the wellbeing for the people and the country,” the palace said.

Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah is in the spotlight as he considers who will be the next prime minister, after both Anwar and Muhyiddin missed his Tuesday afternoon deadline to put together an alliance.

Anwar’s coalition, known as Pakatan Harapan, won the most seats in the Saturday election with 82, while Muhyiddin’s Perikatan Nasional bloc won 73. They need 112 – a simple majority – to form a government.

BN won only 30 seats – the worst electoral performance for a coalition that had dominated politics since independence in 1957 – but the support of its members of parliament will be crucial for both Anwar and Muhyiddin to get to 112.

BN said on Tuesday it would not align with either of the rival coalitions.

Muhyiddin said he had declined the king’s suggestion for the rivals to work together to form a “unity government”. Muhyiddin runs an ethnic Malay Muslim conservative alliance, while Anwar heads a multi-ethnic coalition.

Muhyiddin’s bloc includes an the Islamist party PAS, whose electoral gains have raised concern in a country with significant ethnic Chinese and ethnic Indian minorities, most of whom follow other faiths.

Investors have also been spooked over worries about the Islamist party’s possible impact on policies.

Police this week cautioned social media users to refrain from posting “provocative” content on race and religion after the divisive election. BLOOMBERG, REUTERS