After-polls diary: A day-by-day summary of the attempt to form govt

The race for Putrajaya has seen rapid developments, surprises and changes in direction although the finish line remains elusive.

Malaysiakini wraps up what has been going on.

First, a quick recap of the numbers each coalition and third-force parties hold on their own.

Pakatan Harapan has 82 seats, Perikatan Nasional (73), their Sabah-chapter GRS has six, Sarawak's GPS (23), BN (30), Warisan (three), KDM (two), PBM (one) and one independent.

Sunday, Nov 20: Muhyiddin's early lead

With 79 seats from PN and GRS, PN chief Muhyiddin Yassin appeared to have the upper hand at first on Sunday after GPS - which had 22 seats at the time - pledged its support.

However, 11 seats short of a simple majority, Muhyiddin still needed support from BN.

GPS' support for Muhyiddin also appeared to hinge on BN being part of the coalition.

However, BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi denied GPS' assertion that BN would join with PN - despite some BN MPs leaning in that direction.

Monday, Nov 21: Harapan courts BN

Trying to upstage PN, Harapan and BN staged an encounter between both sides at the Seri Pacific Hotel - which is next to the BN headquarters at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur.

There, BN resolved to move as one bloc - albeit with some MPs missing from the picture.

Anwar later said that BN needed more time to make a decision but was confident that he could form a unity government with their backing.

Against this backdrop, Harapan decided to work with BN to form the state government in Perak under the leadership of BN caretaker menteri besar Saarani Mohamad - despite the latter only having nine state seats while Harapan had 24.

A similar attempt was made by Harapan in Pahang, although a decision has yet to be made.

Meanwhile, three Sabah MPs, two from KDM and one independent also threw their support behind Muhyiddin.

Over in Sarawak, the election in Baram concluded after voting at several polling stations was postponed on Saturday, ending with a victory for GPS - which now has 23 seats.

However, GPS support for PN wavered with one leader saying a final decision would be made later.

Tuesday, Nov 22: BN stays in the opposition

Riding on expectations of a Harapan-BN government, Warisan offered its three MPs to this cause.

However, BN instead decided to remain in the opposition and said it would not join any government.

BN said it was, however, open to entering into an agreement to support the formation of a government - implying they were prepared to sign a confidence and supply agreement (CSA) with a minority government.

Meanwhile, GPS appeared to recalibrate its position - entrusting its support instead to whomever the Yang di-Pertuan Agong decides should be prime minister.

With a lack of clarity over who had majority support, both Anwar and Muhyiddin were summoned to the Palace.

Several media outlets reported that Anwar would be appointed either as prime minister or an interim premier.

However, when he left the palace, the Harapan chief said no decision was made as of yet.

Muhyiddin later said that the Agong proposed a unity government which PN rejected. He insisted that PN has 115 MPs and had already submitted the relevant SDs.

Wednesday, Nov 23: BN, GPS meets the Agong

In an attempt to resolve the impasse, the Agong summoned both GPS and BN leaders to meet him.

GPS leader Fadhillah Yusof told the media that the Sarawak coalition was still in support of PN.

With no resolution in sight, the King has summoned the Conference of Rulers for a meeting tomorrow.

Meanwhile, BN met with PN leaders at St Regis Hotel in order to get a counteroffer to what Harapan is proposing for the coalition to deliberate on.

Harapan’s offer is a 10-point formula that includes a deputy prime minister post for BN.

It was later revealed that BN chief Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had sent the king a letter pledging the support of the coalition’s 30 MPs for Anwar, despite BN deciding to remain in the opposition.

This caused an uproar, with MCA, MIC, and PBRS later allegedly mooting a motion of no confidence against Zahid.

However, the Umno supreme council backed Zahid to continue leading BN.

Umno also agreed to back a “non-PN led” unity government.

Over in Sarawak, GPS' non-bumiputera component SUPP relayed concerns about the coalition's possible alignments at the federal level - believed to be in reference to PN and PAS.

Thursday, Nov 24: Grand finale

The Conference of Rulers met today.

BN's supreme council was also expected to meet, and discuss Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's leadership of the coalition, as well as Harapan's offer for a unity government.

However, this did not appear to take place.

As the rulers met, DAP made the surprise move of meeting and apologising to Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg and his GPS coalition - in a move aimed to gain their support.

Sabah's GRS also wavered in their support for Perikatan Nasional - despite both being led by Bersatu - and said it would follow GPS' lead in backing a unity government.

Then, at 1.30pm, the final announcement.

The king picked Anwar Ibrahim as the country's 10th prime minister.

Anwar will lead a unity government, with BN and GPS as his key partners.

PN chief Muhyiddin Yassin, however, appeared to refuse to accept the decision and wanted Anwar to show how many SDs he has supporting him.

Anwar instead chooses to go the vote of confidence route, with the Dewan Rakyat convening on Dec 19.

Friday, Nov 25: New dawn

A new chapter in Malaysian history begins.

What that story will be, is going to be a book of its own.

Thank you for supporting Malaysiakini throughout this election and the post-election campaign.

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