Barisan Nasional will not support ruling coalitions
Voters line up to vote during the general election in Bera, Pahang state, Malaysia on November 19, 2022.
Xinhua News Agency | Xinhua News Agency | Getty Images
Malaysia’s longest ruling political coalition, Barisan Nasional, has decided that it will not support either of the two main coalitions, Pakatan Harapan or Perikatan Nasional, with the country’s king deciding who will form the government.
The coalition, which won 30 seats in Saturday’s general election, also decided to remain in opposition. It is one of the coalition’s worst election results in its 60-year rule, after it failed to win re-election in 2018 amid the involvement of Barisan member and former prime minister Najib Razak in the 1MDB scandal.
Outgoing Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced the coalition’s decision at 2 p.m. Malaysia time as Pakatan and Perikatan were on their way to meet the king.
Separately, local media reported that the Warisan party said it would support Pakatan and Barisan as the bloc with the most victories. It comes just as Barisan said he won’t partner with Pakatan.
Malaysia faces a suspended parliament as Pakatan, led by former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, has the most parliamentary seats at 82. A coalition would need 112 seats out of 222 to form the government.
The king, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, will now review the election results and the agreements reached by Pakatan and Perikatan to decide the government and prime minister.
The King briefly addressed the audience after arriving at the Istana Negara. Speaking to reporters at Istana, he called on Malaysians to be patient and respect voters’ decisions.
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