[UPDATED] BN not in talks with either GPS nor Perikatan: Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR – Barisan Nasional (BN) is not talking to either Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) nor Perikatan Nasional (PN) about forming a new government, its under-fire chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

He said all coalition MPs who won in the 15th general election yesterday had given him the mandate to decide on which political alliances to form post-election.

By rubbishing claims that BN was in talks with PN, Zahid’s statement effectively means that the race to Putrajaya is still wide open, given that no one party or coalition has a simple majority.

This comes just hours after Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chief Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said his coalition would work with PN, BN and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) to form the new government. 

“Referring to Abang Johari’s statement, I would like to stress that BN has never negotiated with GPS to give its approval for the formation of a government with PN. 

“I would also like to inform that no negotiation has taken place with PN as of now,” Zahid said in a statement this evening.

Earlier today, Abang Johari named BN when stating GPS’ readiness to work on a pact with the coalition, PN, and GRS to form a strong and stable federal government.

PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin later issued his own statement claiming he is confident that he has the necessary support from MPs to be appointed the next prime minister.

While not disclosing figures, he said his support derives from GPS, GRS and “other MPs”, although the mention of BN was conspicuously missing.

Without the backing of Pakatan Harapan’s 82 MPs or BN’s 30 lawmakers, PN will not have the numbers to form the government.

Referring to the mandate given to him by all BN candidates, Zahid reminded the MPs of the “Aku Janji” document that they had signed to give him the authority to decide who BN will work with to form a new government.

“In this regard, any MPs who defy the party’s order will result in them losing their party membership, and subsequently their parliamentary seat.

“This is in line with Parliament’s anti-party hopping law, as enshrined under Article 49A of the federal constitution.”

In the wee hours of the morning today, following the announcement of the election results, PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim claimed he had the support of enough MPs to form a government with a simple majority.

PH only needs to join hands with BN to pass the minimum number of seats required to claim Putrajaya, with a combined 112 MPs. – The Vibes, November 20, 2022