Najib brings BN’s 31 to back case for government

updated Malaysian Insider 12.50pm

UPDATED 12.50pm

By Adib Zalkapli and Lee Wei Lian

IPOH, Feb 5 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak has brought along the 28 Barisan Nasional state legislators and the three independents backing the coalition to see Sultan Azlan Shah to make his case for a new government.

Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin has also been summoned to the palace.
Both leaders are now at the palace, officials said.

In what is looking to be the final hours of the PR state government, Nizar could be asked by the Sultan to make way for a BN government.

Nizar's Pakatan Rakyat government has filed a suit to declare three state seats vacant after their representatives turned independent. The three — from Behrang, Changkat Jering and Jelapang — have thrown their support behind BN, which also accepted back the Bota assemblyman who had defected earlier.

Pakatan Rakyat hopes this move will force the Perak Sultan to accede to a request to dissolve the 59-seat assembly and pave the way for snap polls.

Earlier, Najib was granted an audience with Sultan Azlan Shah this morning a day after he declared BN has enough support to form the state government.

Najib was seen entering Istana Kinta here around 10am accompanied by Bagan Datok MP Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi and other BN officials.

The cheerful-looking Najib and the state Umno deputy chief Zahid left the palace about 30 minutes later.

When met later Najib said that he had informed the Ruler that BN has the majority in the state assembly and intent to form the new state government.

He added that the Sultan had expressed his wish to meet all 31 BN supporters in the assembly before the decision on the new state government can be made.

"We will respect whatever decision made by the Sultan as it is his discretion," Najib told reporters at the state Umno building.

Ini pula dari Malaysiakini..updated 1.25pm..semakin tegang dan panas!!!

Sultan agrees to 'unity' gov't led by BN?
Feb 5, 09 10:25am

1.05pm: Mohd Nizar leaves the palace. He waved and smiled at reporters. He just said: “Good signs. Alhamdulliah.”

12.50pm: Najib is presently chairing an Umno meeting in Ipoh where the choice of the new menteri besar is being discussed. He is expected to call for a press conference within the next hour.

12.40pm: There is an indication that Sultan Azlan Shah will allow Barisan Nasional to form a state government with the participation of three independents.

It is learnt that the sultan met with the four defectors at Istana Kinta this morning.The four had accompanied Najib to the palace during the deputy prime minister's second visit to see the sultan.

BN's 28 state representatives were also present.Malaysiakini also learnt that the sultan had asked the four defectors if they would support a unity government headed by BN.

Menteri Besar Mohd Nizar is still in a meeting with sultan.