PETALING JAYA, Aug 4 (Sin Chew Daily) – Sin Chew Daily editor-in-chief Kuik Cheng Kang feels that the tense relationship between prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has been momentarily relieved following Muhyiddin's audience with the King this morning and the subsequent announcement that he will face the no-confidence vote in Parliament next month to prove he has sufficient support from the Members of Parliament.

Meanwhile, pursuant to the latest political developments in the country, a split within Umno has become inevitable.

Kuik says Muhyiddin actually has three options: to resign for losing majority support in Parliament; to seek to dissolve the Parliament to pave way for fresh elections, which His Majesty will not agree due to the pandemic; and to not resign until September to prove his support in Parliament, which the prime minister has obviously opted.

Kuik says in a special live forum organized by Sin Chew Daily this morning that Umno ministers who were with the prime minister at this afternoon's press conference will very likely continue supporting him until next month.

He says Muhyiddin will emerge as the biggest winner if Umno becomes divided.

"It looks like no one has the absolute majority now.

"We will see whether Umno ministers defying the party's order to quit their cabinet posts will eventually face the party president's disciplinary action.

"And in the event this happens, Umno basically is already divided."

Kuik believes "negotiations" are now under way in view of the current political situation in the country.

"I'm sure there are already deals going on to woo the support of MPs at this moment.

"You can say Muhyiddin is buying time but at the same time the opposition are also expediting their move to make sure they have the numbers to bring down the PN government."

Kuik insists that this development is never a good thing for the nation, as the rakyat, already suffering under the tremendous weight of the COVID-19 pandemic and political turmoil, are poised to suffer even more.

When the Yang di-Pertuan Agong summoned the 222 MPs last February and asked them individually whom they would support: Tun M, Anwar or Muhyiddin, many were puzzled why Muhyiddin's name was thrown in.

Kuik says this shows the unusual relationship between Muhyiddin and the royalty.

Nevertheless, developments in recent weeks have sparked speculations the prime minister's warm relationship with the royal family is souring.

With His Majesty consenting to Muhyiddin facing the no-confidence vote in Parliament next month, the tense relationship between the two is momentarily relieved, as His Majesty does not want to see the pandemic worsened by further political turmoil.

On what will happen if the prime minister fails to get enough support in Parliament next month, Kuik believes the King will not agree to a snap election anyway, and will likely appoint a minority government to stabilize the political situation in the country instead.

He nevertheless believes Muhyiddin will accept the outcome, whatever it may be.

If the impasse still cannot be resolved by then, His Majesty may need to summon all the party presidents again and ask them to nominate their PM candidates.

"His Majesty will likely appoint a minority government based on the list, and if the pandemic has improved by then, an election could be called after September to let the rakyat decide who should form the next government."