The Malaysian Insight

Umno and PAS presidents will discuss cabinet posts with Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in the near future, Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa said.

“Cabinet appointments are the prime minister’s prerogative. But by convention, the prime minister has always discussed appointments with party leaders,” Annuar said at a press conference at the Putra World Trade Centre.

Umno has 39 MPs and PAS has 18. Umno is also the dominant party in Barisan Nasional, while MCA has two MPs, and MIC, one.

Muhyiddin took his oath of office as Malaysia’s eighth prime minister at Istana Negara this morning, claiming the support of 114 MPs from BN, PAS, Bersatu, Gabungan Parti Sarawak and ex-PKR MPs led by Mohamed Azmin Ali.

This figure has been disputed by Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Pakatan Harapan, who are urging for the Dewan Rakyat sitting scheduled for March 9 to proceed so as to test Muhyiddin’s majority support in Parliament.

Annuar said Umno had no problems working with Muhyiddin, who used to be the party’s deputy president before he was sacked under Najib Razak’s leadership.

Muhyiddin had questioned then Umno president and prime minister Najib’s involvement in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal, and was removed from his party post and as deputy prime minister.

He joined Dr Mahathir in forming Bersatu, which then joined PKR, DAP and Amanah to form PH. The coalition won federal power in the 2018 election.

A party source told The Malaysian Insight that cabinet appointments have not been discussed within Umno as yet.

The source also said the March 9 Dewan Rakyat sitting might be delayed until conditions “were more stable”.

Under the constitution, the prime minister can request a delay to the Dewan Rakyat sitting. – March 1, 2020.