KUALA LUMPUR – Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s statement tonight that no agreement has been made to form a government with Perikatan Nasional (PN) confirms rumours swirling that BN is not doing a deal with PN yet.
Sources told The Vibes that BN, which has 30 seats now, is not jumping at the immediate opportunity to collaborate with PN as remaining in the government while doing so will have a long-term impact on plans to rejuvenate the coalition.
BN lost 49 seats from the 79 it won in 2018.
“Many of these seats were lost to PN, so if they were to cooperate with PN, how are they going to retake the seats they lost?
“If they join forces with Pakatan Harapan (PH), they can govern and also prepare to retake the lost seats in the next general election of GE16,” said a highly-placed source earlier today.
BN’s hesitance is evident from its absence in a statement issued by PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Muhyiddin said PN is ready to form a government tomorrow with Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS). He did not mention BN.
Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said the Borneo bloc is ready to form an alliance with PN to form a new government.
Umno Supreme Council member Isham Jalil had earlier suggested that BN remain independent as a strong opposition bloc with its 30 seats so that it can form a formidable check-and-balance.
This will also prepare the party to retake the seats it lost in the next general election and state elections. – The Vibes, November 20, 2022
