One of the many running jokes involving our politicians which would pop up from time to time is whether they actually used modern instant messaging apps such as WhatsApp to communicate with each other. This particular joke would usually appear when a politician made a remark or released a statement that contradicts his or her colleagues and sometimes, even party policies.

Interesting enough, it seems like WhatsApp will have a role in the journey of the country’s next Prime Minister. According to a letter from Azhar Azizan Harun, the Speaker of Dewan Rakyat which has since been shared by many media members, MPs are now being asked to send a statutory declaration to Colonel (Rtd) Nazim Mohd Alim who is the Senior Private Secretary to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

art harun sd pm nomination whatsapp 01 — The said letter from the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat.

Inside the declaration, each MP must clearly identify one particular MP that they are endorsing to become the ninth PM of Malaysia. Azhar’s letter said that this statuary declaration can be delivered through three methods including fax, email, and as you may have guessed: WhatsApp.

He also said that MPs are not allowed to physically hand-deliver the statutory declaration to avoid the spread of COVID-19 in addition to the fact that Istana Negara is located in the PPN Phase 1 area. MPs also have to send the declaration via the listed methods by 4:00 PM this coming Wednesday, 18 August.

With that, let’s see how soon Malaysia will receive a new PM which we hope could help steer the country away from the awful effects of the COVID-19 pandemic as swiftly as possible.

(Source: Norman Goh / Twitter.)