Several rulers leave Istana Negara after about an hour meeting

KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar was seen leaving Istana Negara after the special meeting with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah to discuss the ongoing formation of the new government post-15th General Election (GE15).

The motorcade ferrying Sultan Ibrahim was seen leaving the Palace at 11.57am.

This was followed by the Yang Dipertuan Besar Negri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir who left at 12 noon.

At press time, several other rulers were believed to still be inside the Palace's compound.

Earlier, more than 100 media practitioners had waited outside of the palace compound since 8am, where a Conference of Rulers was expected to be held this morning.

Malaysia has entered a stalemate after none of the parties which stood in GE15 last Saturday won enough parliamentary seats to form government.

Pakatan Harapan (PH) has won the most seats at 82, followed by Perikatan Nasional (PN): 73; Barisan Nasional (BN): 30; Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS): 22; Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS): 7 and others: 6.

The impasse occurred as parties needed to at least secure 112 parliamentary seats to form government as Malaysia has a total of 222 parliamentary seats.

Due to the impasse, the number one leaders in both PH and PN; Anwar Ibrahim and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, respectively; have been negotiating with rival party, BN, in a bid to woo support to form government.

The Conference of Rulers today would discuss the ongoing formation of the new government.

The meeting was being convened for the rulers to come to a decision that would be in the interest of the people and the country.