KUALA LUMPUR: It would be appear that the debate over the labelling of the new federal government under the leadership of newly-minted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has yet to be resolved.

This was after a top Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) leader insisting the new government under the country's ninth prime minister is still the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration.

Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu justified his argument based on the number of Members of Parliament who supported Ismail Sabri as the new prime minister to put an end to the political uncertainty which unfolded recently.

"For us, this is still a PN government. You can do the mathematics. We have a significant number of seats (members of Parliament) and our friends on the other hand have 41. 

"We believe we are representing the PN government," the Tambun Member of Parliament told reporters here today.

He was speaking after attending a meeting among top PN leaders at Publika here, which was chaired by PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Among others leaders spotted arriving at the premises were Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) secretary-general Datuk Guan Dee Koh Hoi.

Two Umno leaders recently dismissed the new government led by the party's vice-president as the PN administration.

In a Twitter post last night, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan ruled out the new government as a PN administration.

"The new government, for me, is not PN government but a Malaysian government comprising BN (Barisan Nasional), PN, GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) and PBS (Parti Bersatu Sarawak).

"PN is only made up of Bersatu, Pas, Gerakan, Sabah Star and that coalition does not include BN, GPS and PBS," said Ahmad, who is the Pontian MP.

Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan had said that with Ismail Sabri's appointment as the ninth prime minister, the PN-labelled federal government had come to an end.

Asked if Bersatu had discussed and demanded for the deputy prime minister's position to be given to a leader from the party, Ahmad Faizal said the matter was not discussed during the meeting.

"The issue was not discussed during the meeting. Whatever it is, we leave it to the PN chairman (Muhyiddin) to discuss with the prime minister," he said.

Ahmad Faizal added among other matters discussed during the meeting were ways to end the health and economic crises brought about by the pandemic.

"We want these pandemic-induced crises to be resolved together. And Alhamdulillah, we will support the new government formed by Ismail Sabri," he said.

At the meeting, Ahmad Faizal also said it was unanimously decided that Muhyiddin will lead the PN bloc.

"We will also continue with preparations to face the next general election. Hence, the PN's election machinery must be strengthened," he said.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2021/08/720151/its-still-pn-administration-says-bersatu