Over 50 media personnel gathered at WTC for BN's special meeting

KUALA LUMPUR - More than 50 media personnel gathered at Menara Dato' Onn, World Trade Center (WTC) here for the coverage of the Special Meeting of the BN Supreme Council which is reported to take place today.

Some media practitioners arrived as early as 7.30am to report on the movements of BN leaders.

However, until 10am, there was no sign of BN leaders at the building.

It was learned that the meeting was likely to be held at 3pm while in the morning there would be a peaceful gathering of solidarity against Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The Special Meeting of the BN Supreme Council became the focus of attention after the Supreme Working Council (MKT) of Umno unanimously decided that BN would support and participate in the formation of a unity government that was not led by Perikatan Nasional (PN).

Indirectly, it meant that Umno supported the Prime Minister from Pakatan Harapan (PH), Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the Umno MKT made the decision at a special meeting chaired by Ahmad Zahid on Wednesday night.

He said the Umno MKT made the decision to support and uphold the order of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, who recommended BN to do so.

"MKT also agreed that all the representatives of the party that won the Parliamentary seats in the 15th General Election (GE15) obey and accept any form of a unity government and other forms of government that will be announced by His Majesty," he said in a statement.

However, the question arises as to whether the component parties of BN would support the decision or not.

It ensued following MCA, MIC and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) on Wednesday submitting a no-confidence motion against Ahmad Zahid and asking him to resign as BN chairman.

The motion was submitted by MCA president, Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong, MIC president Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran and PBRS deputy president, Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup through a letter sent to BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir.

Therefore, the final decision of the BN Supreme Council would resolve the deadlock in the appointment of the 10th Prime Minister and the formation of a new government after GE15.

GE15 last Saturday saw a hung Parliament when no coalition of parties had a simple majority of at least 112 Parliament seats to form a government.

BN, which obtained 30 parliamentary seats, was considered to be the kingmaker or the decisive factor in the establishment of the new government.

PH and PN, each won 82 and 73 seats previously also held several meetings with BN leaders to reach an agreement on the formation of the government.