[UPDATED] With BN backing nullified, PN does not have enough support: PH sec-gen

KUALA LUMPUR – Pakatan Harapan (PH) has rubbished Perikatan Nasional (PN) secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin’s claims that his coalition had support from more than 112 elected parliamentarians to form the government.

PH secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said this was because Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had nullified purported declarations or negotiations involving Umno MPs and PN.

Saifuddin said therefore Hamzah’s claims were invalid and cannot be used as evidence of support for any prime ministerial candidate.

He added that Zahid’s assertions meant that PN could lose several seats it claims to hold.

“PH has entered a serious phase of negotiations with Barisan Nasional (BN),” Saifuddin said.

“The negotiations have touched on political stability and economic recovery by placing the interests of the people and the country first.”

Saifuddin added that PH’s discussions with BN will be finalised soon.

Earlier today, Zahid announced that BN will decide en bloc who to support and form the government with.

He added that any individual statements from BN lawmakers voicing their support for any political coalition are invalid.

This followed a meeting between BN and PH leadership at Seri Pacific Hotel here. Along with Zahid, 25 other BN lawmakers were present.

In the latest statement, Saifuddin also pointed to BN’s Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein's denial of a media statement that claims 10 Umno MPs backed Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister.

“Therefore, Pakatan Harapan’s stance is that the statement by the Perikatan Nasional secretary-general is premature, impossible, and inconclusive in relation to the majority support it claims to have,” he said.– The Vibes, November 21, 2022