KUCHING: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) MPs have conveyed to the King that their choice for the next prime minister was made willingly, said GPS parliamentary chief whip Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

       Fadillah said 17 of the state coalition’s 18 MPs attended the virtual audience at a hotel, where they were joined by Independent Lubok Antu MP Jugah Muyang.

       He said Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing was in Kuala Lumpur and met the King at Istana Negara.

       “As you know, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had met MPs to verify the contents of their statutory declarations, their choice of prime minister and whether it was made willingly.

       “That was the verification we gave. We confirmed that we have nominated a prime minister candidate and it was a willing choice,” Fadillah told reporters after the audience.

       The Petra Jaya MP said the lawmakers were called one by one to meet the King during the audience, which started at 10am and lasted about an hour.

       However, he again declined to reveal the coalition’s nominee.

       “Wait for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to announce it,” he told reporters.

       Santubong MP Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar reiterated he was backing Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

       “I don’t know about the others but I support Ismail Sabri. I’ve known him for a long time and seen him helming various ministries.

       “He is capable, credible, clean and sensitive to (Sarawak’s) needs,” he said.

       Jugah said he conveyed his willing support for Ismail Sabri to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong during the audience.

       “I support the government of the day and I’m friendly to GPS and the Perikatan Nasional government,” he said.