Who are PN and Harapan's likely partners?

Who are PN and Harapan's likely partners?


Both Perikatan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan are jostling for support to form the government.

For PN, an alliance with its Sabah counterpart GRS and Sarawak's GPS will produce 101 seats.

With the addition of PBM, Warisan, and Sabah independents, this increases to 108 seats.

This is still not enough to form a government - which needs 111 seats under the current Parliament.

As party hopping is not an option, PN must then get BN's support in order to make the numbers.

One possible solution is for PN to ally with BN's seven Sabah MPs - who are in government together with GRS.

This will give PN 115 seats in Parliament.

Sabah BN has autonomy from its peninsula counterparts - and backing a PN prime minister would not violate the anti-hopping law.

Umno has not amended its party rules to prevent MPs from going against the party - by making it a "voluntary resignation" offence.

This also opens up PN's opportunities to secure support from BN MPs who are not aligned with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for support in forming a government.

As for Harapan - which claims to have the numbers - an alliance with GPS, Warisan, the six Sabah independents and PBM would get it 111 seats - just enough to form a federal government for now.

However, Harapan must either win in Baram or Padang Serai - whose elections have been postponed - in order to get a 112-seat simple majority once those two vacant seats have been filled up.

Padang Serai is a mixed seat which PKR has held since 2008 - making it a possible winnable seat if Harapan can ensure a high enough turnout.

Unsavoury options for GPS

For GPS, Harapan and PN are both unsavoury options for them to work with.

GPS has an intense rivalry with DAP in Sarawak - which until the emergence of PSB - was the state's main opposition party.

Meanwhile, allying with PN means GPS will have to work closer with PAS - which is a major partner in PN.

PN has often resorted to inflammatory remarks that go against the multicultural values of Sarawak's people where 63 percent of the people are Christian.

Most recently, PN chief Muhyiddin Yassin questioned whether Malaysia would go through a "Christianisation" process if Harapan ruled. He claimed his remarks were taken out of context.

As for a Harapan-BN alliance, while the coalition leaders Anwar Ibrahim and Zahid are allegedly in cahoots, the other BN MPs are not likely to go along with this plan.

Sembrong MP-elect Hishammuddin Hussein - who is in the faction against Zahid - has openly said BN should not work with Harapan.