114 MPs called to palace tomorrow, Umno claims victory

A total of 114 MPs have been summoned to Istana Negara tomorrow, in what Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan describes as a sign that Bera MP Ismail Sabri Yaakob has garnered sufficient support to form a new government. According to a schedule sighted by Malaysiakini, the MPs will be arriving throughout the day in five batches starting at 10am. 

They comprise MPs from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Bersatu, Umno, MCA, MIC, PAS, and several other parties and independent MPs. Notably absent is Umno’s Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. Based on the schedule, the composition of the MPs invited to the palace tomorrow are: 

Umno × 37 

Bersatu × 31 

PAS × 18 

GPS-PBB × 13 

GPS-PRS × 2 

GPS-PDP × 2 

MCA × 2 

GPS-SUPP × 1 

MIC × 1 

PBRS × 1 

PBS × 1 

Star × 1 

Independent × 4 

Several MPs have confirmed the details of the list to be correct and they will be attending the session at their scheduled time. Meanwhile, in a message to fellow BN elected representatives, Ahmad claims this to be a sign that Ismail has won sufficient support. 

“Only the winning group would be invited to confirm their support at Istana Negara, meaning that, God willing, Ismail is the winning candidate for prime minister. “This is of course the result of the cooperation led by the Umno president and deputy president, (Pekan MP) Najib Abdul Razak, supreme council members, and all our MPs,” he said. 

Likewise, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said in a text message, “Praise be to Allah that Ismail Sabri is being elevated as the ninth prime minister based on Istana Negara’s invitations to all MPs who nominated him.” On the other hand, when asked whether PKR has received a similar invitation, the party’s communications director Fahmi Fadzil told Malaysiakini he has no information on the matter. A DAP source likewise said he has no information.