KUALA LUMPUR: It looks like the impasse over who will be the nation's 10th prime minister will not be settled tomorrow.
Barisan Nasional has yet to decide which coalition to support to form the next government.
Instead, it will seek the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to postpone the audience he had granted the 30 BN members of parliament.
Its leaders said BN would need more time to come to a final decision, before seeking an audience with the King.
Sabah Barisan Nasional chief Datuk Seri Bung Mokhtar Radin said the coalition was in a "cooling period" and yet to make a decision, despite the BN supreme council meeting tonight and the meeting involving all 30 of its MPs.
"We will still seek an audience with the King (tomorrow). However, we still need a bit of time to think.
"We (only) have 30 MPs, we cannot be in a rush. We'll inform the King (of our choices) when he asks (tomorrow)," he said when met by reporters after a meeting at BN headquarters, tonight.
Echoing Bung, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah deputy president Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup said the coalition will issue a statement to seek more time before seeking an audience with the King.
"We will decide after we finish the negotiations (as it is not yet finished).
"We will seek for more time to seek an audience with the King and we will issue a statement on it," he said.
At the same time, MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan said BN has requested to delay the audience with the King, as the party still needs time to decide.
"We need to check a few matters in detail, before deciding on anything.
"This is why we are requesting the palace to postpone the audience with the YDPA," he said.
MCA secretary-general Chong Sin Woon said BN stands firm on the decision it made this morning that its supreme council has decided not to support any coalition to form the federal government.
"So, it is up to the chairman (Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) to convey the matter to the King."
He said the coalition has submitted its request for the postponement to the King.
Meanwhile, BN treasurer Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the media should wait for an official statement.
"It is not our practice to make it public what was discussed in the meeting."
Earlier, the BN supreme council met in a one-hour meeting before meeting with its new MPs.
This followed a summons by the King for individual audiences with the 30 MPs. His Majesty had summoned the BN parliamentarians because his suggestion for Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional to form a unity government had been rejected by PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.