The Yang DiPertuan Agong has found no one with a clear majority to form the government, according to interim Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“And because there is no distinct majority, he (the King) says the right forum is the Dewan Rakyat.
“So, Parliament will be called on the second of next month (next Monday) in order to determine who gets majority support in the Dewan Rakyat to become the next prime minister.
“However, if the Dewan Rakyat fails to find a person with a majority, we will have to go for snap elections,” he said at a press conference in Putrajaya.
He had met the King earlier this morning.
Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah had been interviewing lawmakers on Tuesday and Wednesday to determine if anyone had majority support to form a government.
A meeting with the other Malay rulers is reportedly scheduled for tomorrow.
Parliament was originally scheduled to be held on March 9, but looks to have been brought forward to solve the current political impasse.
Mahathir wants to form a unity government that puts “national interests above party lines”.
Asked about how this would work, Mahathir said that whoever is chosen as prime minister can appoint a cabinet based on whoever they wish.
“He can choose any member without ties to any party… (they will be in cabinet) as individuals and not looked upon as representatives of their party,” he said.
He added that independent MPs can also be considered if they are qualified.
Mahathir said Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin had also discussed with him the possibility of the latter becoming a prime minister candidate.
Harapan, meanwhile, has thrown their support behind PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.
Umno and PAS have u-turned on their support for Mahathir due to objections to the government of individuals model. They want snap elections instead. – Malaysiakini