No decision yet on appointment of new Prime Minister - Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR: There has been no decision yet on the appointment of the 10th Prime Minister and formation of a new federal government following the conclusion of the 15th General Election (GE15), said Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He said that during his audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah this afternoon, His Majesty emphasised the need for consensus and cooperation among all parties so that a strong government could be formed to safeguard the people's interests and resuscitate the economy.

Anwar said Al-Sultan Abdullah also commanded that the new government should reflect representation from all quarters, races and regions.

"There is no decision yet. With respect, we just ask for the consideration and wisdom of Agong (on appointment of new PM and formation of government)," he told a news conference in front of Gate 2 of Istana Negara here today.

Earlier, Anwar and Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had an hour-long audience with Al-Sultan Abdullah at Istana Negara.

Anwar, who won the Tambun seat in GE15 last Saturday, confirmed that his name was the only one submitted by PH to Istana Negara for the post of Prime Minister.

Anwar also said that for now, the question of forming a minority government did not arise.

GE15 resulted in a hung Parliament after no single party or coalition managed to win a simple majority of 112 seats.

PH won 82 seats, followed by PN (73), Barisan Nasional (30), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (23), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (six), Warisan (three), independents (two), and Parti Bangsa Malaysia and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (one each).

-- BERNAMA