TEMPO.CO, Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia’s King Al-Sultan Abdullah said on Tuesday, Nov. 22, that he will pick the next prime minister soon after the leading two contenders failed to win a majority, but did not specify the timing for his decision, as the political crisis from an inconclusive election dragged on for the third day.
Saturday’s election resulted in an unprecedented hung parliament, with neither opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim nor former premier Muhyiddin Yassin winning the simple majority needed to form a government.
The election prolongs political instability in the Southeast Asian nation, which has had three prime ministers in as many years, and risks delays to policy decisions needed to galvanize an economic recovery.
The king had given political parties until 2 p.m. local time on Tuesday to put together alliances needed for a majority.
But the incumbent Barisan Nasional coalition said it would not support either candidate, a move that prevented both Anwar and Muhyiddin from reaching a majority.
It is now up to the constitutional monarch, who plays a largely ceremonial role but can appoint whoever he believes will command a majority.
“Let me make a decision soon,” the king told reporters outside the national palace.
He also asked Malaysians to accept any decision about the government formation.
In a statement later, the palace said no lawmaker had managed to get a simple majority to be appointed as the prime minister. It invited Anwar and Muhyiddin for an audience with the king at 1630 local time (0830 GMT).
The uncertainty hit the Kuala Lumpur stock market (.KLSE), which fell for a second day on Tuesday. Significant election gains by an Islamist party added to investors’ fears, notably over policies on gambling and alcohol consumption.
Its electoral gains have also raised fears in multicultural Malaysia, which has significant ethnic Chinese and ethnic Indian minorities following other faiths. The PAS Islamist party has advocated for sharia law.
Malaysian police cautioned the country’s social media users to refrain from posting “provocative” content on race and religion after the divisive election.
REUTERS
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
The Indonesian Consulate in Tawau Malaysia helped facilitate the deportation of 92 troubled Indonesian nationals from the Tawau Immigration Depot.
Indonesia and Malaysia are eyeing to improve cooperation in helping solve issues that have arisen in Myanmar.
Former Prime Minister of Malaysia Dr. Mahathir Mohamad praises Indonesia’s political stability and President Jokowi.
The Indonesian government through the Government Regulation in lieu of the General Election Law or Perppu Pemilu increased the number of DPR seats.
Malaysia reported 2,421 new COVID-19 infections, as of midnight Friday, bringing the national total to 4,996,964, according to the health ministry.
The Indonesian Central Statistics Agency BPS reveals that 678,500 foreign tourists visited Indonesia in October this year.
PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said many investors are interested in the new capital city or IKN Nusantara project.
Both Malaysia and Indonesia have expressed a desire to maintain good relations after Anwar became prime minister.
President Jokowi in a phone call on Thursday congratulates the newly appointed Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar Ibrahim, the leader of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, has been named as the Prime Minister of Malaysia