Palace deadline extended by 24 hours

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah has consented to extend the deadline originally given to MPs to submit statutory declarations (SDs) on their candidate of choice for prime minister to 2pm tomorrow.

The deadline was initially set for 2pm today, as coalition leaders Anwar Ibrahim and Muhyiddin Yassin scrambled for the support needed to form the next government following the inconclusive results of the election on Saturday. 

Istana Negara said in a statement that the Agong's decision followed requests from the leaders of political parties as well as coalitions received by the palace today. 

"His Majesty urges and advises the people to be patient and remain calm until the process of forming a new government and the appointment of the 10th prime minister is complete," it said.

Anwar's Pakatan Harapan, together with youth-based party Muda, won 82 seats in the Nov 19 election.

Muhyiddin's Perikatan Nasional coalition, which includes Islamist party PAS, meanwhile won 73.