Sabah, S'wak expected to back new alliance led by Muhyiddin

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah and Sarawak are expected to throw their weight behind a new political alliance that will be led by Parti Pribumin Bersatu Malaysia president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, according to sources.

Political sources in the state said that all nine Parti Warisan Sabah MPs and the 18 MPs from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), together with the Bersatu alliance, Barisan Nasional and PAS are in a position to form the next government.

“We expect a new national coalition (as the) Federal Government, known as Perikatan Nasional, will become reality late tonight (Friday) or by tomorrow morning, ” the source said on Friday (Feb 28).

The sources said they expected three local opposition parties with one MP each to also join in and support the new coalition.

These three opposition MPs from Sabah are Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (Sabah STAR), Arthur Kurup (Parti Bersatu Rakyat (Sabah) and Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili (Parti Bersatu Sabah).

The source was, however, not sure if Parti Upko president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau, the Tuaran MP, would also join the new alliance.

Upko was Pakatan Harapan-friendly in the Warisan-led state government.

The sources said they expected Muhyiddin to get the support of 128 to 129 of the 222 MPs.

Interim Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is also Bersatu chairman, said on Thursday (Feb 27) that he was prepared to support Muhyiddin for the Prime Minister post.

“We believe Pakatan now has about 93 MPs in support of PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, ” the sources said.

They added that both Warisan and GPS were maintaining their stand to be with the Federal Government of the day.