Conference of Rulers’ special meeting ends

KUALA LUMPUR: The Conference of Rulers special meeting after about three hours convening with the 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 regent of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al Sultan Abdullah Riayatuddin Al Mustafa Billah Shah was the last to leave the Istana Negara at 1.07pm.

Earlier, Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar was first to leave Istana Negara at 11.57am.

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.

Following the special meeting, the King had named PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as Malaysia’s 10th Prime Minister.