Pakatan Harapan chairman Anwar Ibrahim says there has been no decision reached on the country’s 10th prime minister.
Speaking to reporters after he was granted an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, Anwar said “there’s still a vacancy, and applications are open” when asked about the prime minister’s post.
Also present at the audience was Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin, who left without speaking with the media that had gathered outside Istana Negara.
In an earlier statement, Istana Negara said no single MP had the simple majority to be appointed the prime minister.
It said this after receiving information about the coalition of political parties, and their prime ministerial candidates, earlier today.
“No, no, no… There has been no decision yet,” said Anwar when met by reporters outside the palace.
“We were summoned by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and I expressed my profound gratitude to His Royal Highness for the opportunity given (to us).
“His Highness began by expressing his desire to form a strong and formidable government that’s more inclusive in terms of various races, religions and regions…that will be able to focus on resolving the problems of the public and resuscitating the economy.
“I expressed my gratitude to His Highness and said we will do our best…and we will digest the advice and wait for the final decision, which is of course, at the discretion of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.”
PH won 82 seats at Saturday’s general election while PN won 73 seats, both well short of the simple majority of 112 required in the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat.
Adding that there was “no question” of a minority government, Anwar said that he was confident of securing a simple majority if given time.