GE15: No decision yet on who will be PM, says Anwar

PETALING JAYA: There is no decision yet on who will be the next prime minister, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Pakatan Harapan chairman, who had an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah on Tuesday (Nov 22), said names had been submitted to the King and the matter would be left to his Highness' discretion.

"We were summoned by the King and I expressed my profound gratitude for the opportunity given," he said.

He quipped that there was a "vacancy" for the prime minister post which is "open for application".

Speaking to the press outside the Istana Negara gates, Anwar said the King had expressed his desire for the formation of a strong government that is more inclusive in terms of race, religion and region.

"That would allow the government to focus on resolving the problems of the rakyat and to resuscitate our economy.

"I, of course, expressed this gratitude to His Highness and said we will do our best and digest the advice and will wait for the final decision, which is of course (that of) the Yang di-Pertuan Agong," he said.

He said for now, there was no question of forming a minority government.

"Given time, I think we will secure a simple majority as I have indicated earlier," he said.

Anwar Ibrahim then left Istana Negara at 5.46pm.

The King had earlier summoned both Anwar and Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to Istana Negara at 4.30pm on Tuesday as no coalition had the majority following the 15th General Election.

Comptroller of the Royal Household Datuk Seri Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said that Istana Negara had on Tuesday received information on various political party pacts to form the Federal Government.

Pakatan has the highest number of seats with 81 seats while Perikatan has 73.