SHAH ALAM: Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin says he will show statutory declarations of support signed by MPs as proof that his coalition has enough parliamentary support to form a government.
He also appeared to hint that he was able to draw on support from Barisan Nasional MPs, asserting that it was the constitutional right of any MP to back any person, even from a rival coalition, as prime minister.
Muhyiddin said the anti-hopping law did not apply to such MPs as they did not leave the party but only offered their support.
“The constitution states that a person who is to become the prime minister must hold the confidence of the majority of the Dewan Rakyat. It does not say (the support) must be from party A, B or C,” he said.
PN had won 73 seats in the general election, but Muhyiddin said on Saturday night he had secured enough support to become the prime minister.
BN won 30 seats, Pakatan Harapan (plus Muda) 82, Gabungan Party Sarawak 22, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah six.
Muhyiddin and PH’s Anwar Ibrahim have both claimed to have enough support to form a government.
However, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi denied that BN had been in discussions with PN or GPS to team up to form a government. He also warned MPs from BN that they risked losing their seats if they defied any party directive.
In response, Muhyiddin said that was Zahid’s view. He said the anti-hopping law did not apply as MPs who backed anyone to be a prime minister, in this case from a rival coalition, did not leave the party but only offered their support.
Muhyiddin said last night that PN received a letter from Istana Negara with specific instructions on the requirements that needed to be met.
Political party leaders have until 2pm today to show that they are able to form a government and have been told to submit the name of an MP who can command a majority in the Dewan Rakyat for appointment as the prime minister.
Anwar has also claimed that PH has sufficient support to form a new government after entering into an understanding with other MPs. However, he refused to go into details.
Last night, he denied that he was to meet Zahid about forming a coalition.
