Malaysia's cabinet game intensifies, Supreme Leader meets with political parties to discuss Prime Minister election

Malaysia's cabinet formation game intensifies

Malaysia ’s supreme head of state, Abdullah, issued a statement on the 25th saying that he would meet with all political parties in the lower house and their members to discuss and decide on the next prime minister. Following Mahathir Mohammed's resignation as prime minister on the 24th, major parties such as the Indigenous Solidarity Party and the Malay National Unification Agency (UMNO) have continued to form cabinet actions.

[Resignation within party]

Malaysia's New Straits Times reported that the indigenous solidarity party, one of the four parties in the Malaysian ruling coalition, held an emergency meeting late on the 24th and passed a resolution, and refused to accept Mahathir's resignation as party chairman and prime minister. The top of the Indigenous Solidarity Party went to Mahathir's private residence on the morning of the 25th.

A senior member of the Indigenous Solidarity Party said the Indigenous Solidarity Party will do its best to persuade Mahathir to withdraw his resignation, "we hope that Mahathir (re) appointed as Prime Minister."

Mahathir has resigned from his post as prime minister and honorary chairman of the indigenous unity party on the 24th. Malaysia's supreme head of state, Abdullah, agreed to resign as prime minister and named him transitional prime minister.

"Malaysia Watch" quoted sources as saying that Mahathir's decision to resign as party chairman "unexpectedly" could disrupt the party's plan to form a new political alliance.

It is reported that Mahathir was not willing to cooperate with the former ruling party, the Malay National Unity Organization (UMNO), and did not attend the meeting of the Supreme Council of the Indigenous Unity Party on the 23rd.

[The opposition party turns over]

Umno, the biggest opposition party, said on the 25th that it has won the majority of parliamentary seats needed to form a new government.

UMNO Secretary-General Anouir Moussa told Malaysian media that UMNO has formed alliances with several opposition parties and some members of the Indigenous Unity Party.

Since Malaysia's independence in 1957, a multi-party coalition led by UMNO has long been in power. Mahathir claimed "disappointment" with Umno led by then Prime Minister Najib in 2016 and announced his withdrawal from Umno; in 2018 he announced reconciliation and alliance with People's Justice Party Chairman Anwar Ibrahim, defeating him in the election The ruling coalition led by Najib formed a four-party "Hope Alliance" to jointly govern.

In response to Umno's statement, I hope that the member of the alliance, Secretary-General of the Democratic Action Party, Lin Guanying, will respond, and hope that the alliance will also have the seats required to form a cabinet. (Xu Chao) (Xinhua News Agency Special Feature)