KUALA LUMPUR: Umno vice president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said only the Barisan Nasional (BN) supreme council can decide whether the coalition should form a Pakatan Harapan (PN)-BN unity government.
Ismail said Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and other political bureaus do not have the right to decide on the matter.
"The president and bureau have no right. Only (BN) supreme council could make the decision," he said when met by reporters at the Sri Pacific Hotel, today.
It is learnt that the sudden meeting was to discuss the formation of the federal government, as no single coalition was able to secure a simple majority to form a federal government.
Earlier, PH chairman, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, BN chairman, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu spotted arriving at the 10am meeting.
PH won 82 seats, the largest number among all parties, which includes five seats won by Sarawak DAP and one by Muda.
PN was close behind at 73, including 22 seats won under the PAS banner. BN trailed with 30 seats. Meanwhile, GPS won 22 seats and GRS swept 6.
Comptroller of the Royal Household for Istana Negara Datuk Seri Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin yesterday said the King was informed that no single party had successfully obtained a simple majority.
He added that the King had instructed all political party and coalition leaders with a substantial number of seats to inform Istana Negara regarding their coalitions and prime ministerial candidates for a new government by 2pm, today.