KUALA LUMPUR – Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Puad Zarkashi has given the clearest indication yet that Barisan Nasional (BN) will be throwing its support behind Pakatan Harapan (PH) to form a unity government.
In a Facebook post early this morning, Puad said the cooperation between PH and BN to establish state governments in Pahang and Perak should be seen as the “best clue” for a federal government.
“It is definitely not PN (Perikatan Nasional). Umno will go to the ground and provide an explanation.
“(BN component parties) MIC and MCA must accept the reality,” he said in an ostensible reference to how the two BN components voiced their protests over working with PH to form a federal government.
He added that BN will be part of a unity government, as advised by Yang di-Pertuan Agong during his audience with PH leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and BN chief Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
During the Umno Supreme Council meeting last night, it was decided that the party will not be supporting PN in the formation of the new government.
Prior to the meeting, MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon accused Zahid, who is also Umno president, of going against the collective decision made by the BN Supreme Council and for not communicating its resolution “correctly” to the king.
He also urged Zahid to step down immediately, calling the Umno leader as being unfit to lead BN.
The Malay rulers will be meeting the Agong at the Istana Negara today to discuss the nation’s political situation.
This came after PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had rejected the ruler’s advice to form a unity government.
Malaysia has been in a state of political impasse for at least five days, following the results of the 15th general election, which saw no one coalition securing a simple majority of 112 seats to form the government.
PH managed to secure 82 seats, making it the largest single bloc, while PN won a shocking 73 seats. BN, once the ruling political power in the nation for over six decades, only managed to win 30 seats. – The Vibes, November 24, 2022
