Malaysia's king asks major parties to submit proposals on government formation

By Idris Sulun

KUALA LUMPUR (AA) – The Malaysian king ordered the political alliances that won majority seats in Saturday's 15th general election to submit ideas about the formation of a new government by Monday noon.

One of the Royal Palace's officials, Ahmad Fadil bin Shamsuddin, said in a statement that the palace had approached the president of the Malaysian House of Representatives, Azhar Azizan Harun, for assistance in interacting with the heads of political parties and coalitions.

“The leaders of political parties and coalitions will be asked to inform the King, in the order decided by the Speaker of the Parliament, about the majority to form the government and the nominee for the prime minister,” Ahmad Fadil stated.

According to the constitution, the final decision-making authority over the establishment of the new administration resides with King Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.

To form a government in Malaysia's 222-seat parliament, at least 112 MPs must vote in favor.

The Alliance of Hope (PH), led by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, won the 15th general election with 82 seats, while former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s Malay-based Perikatan Nasional (PN) or National Alliance bagged 73 seats, the Election Commission of Malaysia announced on Sunday morning.

Both the leading groups are in talks to form a coalition government.

The poll comes more than a month after Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob dissolved parliament and declared snap elections. The country's longest-serving coalition suffered major upsets, winning just 30 seats.