Sarawak premier meets Muhyiddin, Hadi as next govt within PN's grasp

Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg flew to Kuala Lumpur today to meet with the top leaders of Perikatan Nasional (PN), hours after the coalition emerged as one of the biggest winners looking to attract partners to form the federal bloc in Putrajaya.

The meeting is the clearest indication yet that Sarawak's GPS – the coalition that secured 22 seats in the election, making it a kingmaker in the current jostle for numbers – is leaning towards Muhyiddin Yassin's PN.

"Negotiations are also underway with other like-minded parties and independent MPs. God willing, the federal government can be formed in the near future," said Muhyiddin.

Also present at the meeting was PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

PN won 73 seats in the final tally of the general election results yesterday, after a wave of Malay support swung to the coalition at the cost of Umno's traditional seats.

Pakatan Harapan (PH) meanwhile bagged 81 seats, but a history of friction with GPS makes it unlikely that the Sarawak ruling bloc will accept its offer to join the coalition led by Anwar Ibrahim.

In 2020, following the collapse of the PH government, GPS and PAS agreed to join forces with Bersatu alongside Umno to support Muhyiddin as prime minister.

Muhyiddin's 17-month rule also saw a series of gains for Sarawak, including billions of ringgit in petroleum royaltyies that the state had been demanding from the federal government.